Two medicines, side by side
Abiraterone vs degarelix
Abiraterone and degarelix are both labeled for prostate cancer. Drugs@FDA records approvals of abiraterone since 2011 and of degarelix since 2008.
Check it at the source: the abiraterone FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 28, 2025); the degarelix FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2024).
Highlights of the abiraterone record
Abiraterone (Zytiga) · label of March 28, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsZYTIGA is indicated in combination with prednisone for the treatment of patients with Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) Metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) ZYTIGA is a CYP17 inhibitor indicated in combination with prednisone for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 28, 2011
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.774 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the degarelix record
Degarelix (Firmagon) · label of January 30, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsFIRMAGON ® is indicated for treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer. FIRMAGON is a GnRH receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 24, 2008
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Abiraterone label of March 28, 2025, Degarelix label of January 30, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do abiraterone and degarelix differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Abiraterone, “Abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) is converted in vivo to abiraterone, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, that inhibits 17 α-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17).”; Degarelix, “Degarelix is a GnRH receptor antagonist.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Abiraterone, “Elimination In patients with metastatic CRPC, the mean terminal half-life of abiraterone in plasma (mean ± SD) is 12 ± …”; Degarelix, “Excretion Following subcutaneous administration of 240 mg FIRMAGON at a concentration of 40 mg/mL to prostate cancer …”
Generics: abiraterone since 2018; degarelix none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Abiraterone | Degarelix | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Prostate cancer | Prostate cancer |
| Pharmacologic class | Cytochrome P450 17A1 Inhibitor | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) is converted in vivo to abiraterone, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, that inhibits 17 α-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17). | Degarelix is a GnRH receptor antagonist. It binds reversibly to the pituitary GnRH receptors, thereby reducing the release of gonadotropins and consequently testosterone. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination In patients with metastatic CRPC, the mean terminal half-life of abiraterone in plasma (mean ± SD) is 12 ± 5 hours. | Excretion Following subcutaneous administration of 240 mg FIRMAGON at a concentration of 40 mg/mL to prostate cancer patients, degarelix is eliminated in a biphasic fashion, with a median terminal half-life of … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 28, 2011 | December 24, 2008 |
| First generic approved | October 31, 2018 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 23 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.774 per tablet (Abiraterone acetate 250 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | -27% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 40,909 | 5,247 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to abiraterone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions