For years, you’ve been replacing your patient’s testosterone. Maybe it’s time to consider replacing how it’s delivered.
For years, you’ve been replacing your patient’s testosterone. Maybe it’s time to consider replacing how it’s delivered.
While there have been frequent, and prominent, new products developed for treating hypogonadism in the last 20 years, one particular type of option has been scarce – and it may be the one that patients want and/or prefer. A recent survey reveals that even with so many choices, many patients are struggling with testosterone replacement therapy.
Administration challenges may be affecting adherence
An online survey conducted in June 2020 by The Harris Poll* of 491 men who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism within the United States reveals that more than half of men currently on treatment (53%) are not taking their TRT exactly as directed by their HCP. When asked why, nearly all (94%) cite difficulties with the mode of administration as a reason. In particular, they point to office visits for in-person administration (28%), objection to needles/injections (25%) or the inconvenience of gel (24%).
A desire to know about their options
Among the men surveyed, 76% wish there were more treatment options for hypogonadism.
- 82% are interested in learning about oral alternatives
- Only 49% of patients surveyed are aware that oral TRTs are available for men with hypogonadism
And tellingly, 60% wish they had more conversations with their HCP about their treatment options.
The challenge of oral T
For many years, oral therapy simply was not a practical option for these patients; because it is metabolized so rapidly in the liver, oral testosterone does not have sufficient bioavailability to be effective as replacement therapy.[1] While a formulation of oral testosterone undecanoate has been widely available and used outside the U.S. since the 1970s, it was not approved for use in the U.S. because of its pharmacokinetic profile.1,[2]
An innovative solution for patients in need.
JATENZO® (testosterone undecanoate) Capsules CIII, which became commercially available in February 2020, overcomes those pharmacokinetic shortcomings with a unique self-emulsifying drug delivery system.
“These data ultimately found patients need more discussions with their HCPs about treatment options, especially oral options,” said Dr. Parviz Kavoussi, Reproductive Urologist at Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine, “JATENZO offers patients a convenient, oral softgel formulation, and eliminates the worry of gel transference, skin irritation from patches, or pain from injections that other testosterone treatments carry.”
JATENZO is indicated for testosterone replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone: primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) due to structural or genetic etiologies.
The most common adverse events of JATENZO (incidence ≥2%) are headache (5%), increased hematocrit (5%), hypertension (4%), decreased HDL (3%), and nausea (2%). No clinically significant changes in liver function tests have been observed in clinical trials.[3]
JATENZO is taken twice daily (BID) with food, once in the morning and once in the evening. The starting dose is 237 mg TU BID, and serum T should be measured to check for response to therapy after at least 7 days on treatment, about 6 hours after the morning dose is taken.3
For more information, visit JATENZO.com/hcp/.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING on increases in blood pressure.
*The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Clarus Therapeutics from May 6 – June 5, 2020 among 491 U.S. males ages 18+ who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism by a healthcare provider. Results were weighted by education, age, race/ethnicity, region, income, household size, marital status, and propensity to be online to align them with their actual proportions in the population.
[1] Nieschlag E, Nieschlag S. Eur J Endocrinol. 2019;180:R201-R.212.
[2] Yin AV, et al. J Androl. 2012;33:190-201.
[3] Data on file. Clinical Study Report: CLAR-18019. Clarus Therapeutics, Inc.
