Scientists test new prostate disease drug

QUEBEC CITY, March 27 (UPI) -- A Canadian-headquartered biopharmaceutical company is conducting the second Phase 3 study of a new drug designed to treat prostate disease.

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. said the double-blind study to be conducted in Europe will test the clinical effectiveness of cetrorelix, a luteinizing hormone-releasing drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH -- a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that causes disturbances in urination.

In the second Phase 3 study, 400 male patients will enter a four-week, no-treatment observation period and then be randomly assigned to either receive cetrorelix or a placebo. Effectiveness will based on a test that measures the severity and stability of voiding prostate symptoms.

The company's first study of the effectiveness of cetrorelix began in April 2007 and is continuing in Canada, Europe and the United States.