Description
Enzaptor (Enzalutamide) 40 mg
Enzaptor 40 mg is listed here as an enzalutamide capsule product. Enzalutamide is a prescription androgen receptor inhibitor used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It is an oral systemic medicine in the class of nonsteroidal antiandrogens, designed to block androgen signalling that can drive prostate cancer growth.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is enzalutamide. It belongs to the androgen receptor inhibitor class and is also described as a second-generation antiandrogen. The product presented as a 40 mg capsule corresponds to an oral soft-capsule formulation containing enzalutamide.
Established Medical Uses
Enzalutamide is established for use in prostate cancer settings where blocking androgen receptor signalling is clinically important. Regulatory prescribing information describes its use in patients with:
- castration-resistant prostate cancer
- metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer
Depending on the country and approved label, enzalutamide may be used across several stages of advanced prostate cancer. The exact authorised indication can vary by region and product registration.
How It Works
Prostate cancer cells often depend on androgen receptor signalling for growth and survival. Enzalutamide works by binding to the androgen receptor and blocking the action of androgens. It also interferes with receptor movement into the cell nucleus and with receptor interaction with DNA. By disrupting these signalling steps, it helps reduce the growth stimulus that androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells receive.
Important Safety Information
Enzalutamide has no listed formal contraindications in the prescribing information reviewed, but it carries several important safety warnings. Seizure risk is a recognised concern, and patients with factors that may lower the seizure threshold require particular caution. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome has also been reported. Other important warnings include hypersensitivity reactions, ischemic heart disease, falls and fractures, and embryo-fetal toxicity.
Clinically significant drug interactions are also important. Enzalutamide can affect many other medicines because it is a strong inducer of CYP3A4 and a moderate inducer of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. Strong CYP2C8 inhibitors may increase enzalutamide exposure, while strong CYP3A4 inducers may reduce exposure. Medicines with a narrow therapeutic index may be affected, so a full medication review is essential in clinical practice.
Possible Side Effects
Common adverse effects reported in clinical studies include fatigue, back pain, hot flush, constipation, joint pain, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, and hypertension. Dizziness and falls are also relevant because they can lead to injury. Serious reactions can include seizure, severe neurologic symptoms suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, hypersensitivity, cardiovascular events, and fractures. Not every patient will experience these effects, and the overall risk depends on individual clinical factors.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical trial and review literature supports enzalutamide as an effective androgen receptor pathway inhibitor in advanced prostate cancer. Published reviews describe meaningful activity in metastatic castration-resistant disease and, in later studies, benefit in broader prostate cancer settings. The evidence base supports its role as a systemic therapy that can improve disease control and delay progression in appropriately selected patients. As with all anticancer medicines, benefits and risks must be interpreted in the context of the approved indication and the patient’s overall condition.
Medical Information Notice
This educational summary is based on sources available at the time of review and is not a substitute for the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. XTANDI (enzalutamide) Capsules/Tablets, Prescribing Information. View official prescribing information
- DailyMed. XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsule and tablet label. View official drug label
- European Medicines Agency. Xtandi EPAR – Product information. View European product information
- Ali R Golshayan, Emmanuel S Antonarakis. Enzalutamide: an evidence-based review of its use in the treatment of prostate cancer. Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications, 2013. View scientific article
- Lesley J Scott. Enzalutamide: A Review in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Drugs, 2018. View scientific article
