Private MD News

FDA approves new testosterone therapy

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

Men who have received low testosterone test results may soon have a new treatment option that could enable them to improve their hormone levels and cut their risk for a range of chronic diseases.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of gel that has been proven effective in clinical trials at bringing men's testosterone levels back to within a healthy range.

The gel, which is marketed as FORESTA by Endo Pharmaceuticals, was shown in one recent trial to improve the hormone levels of a majority of men who took it. A total of 78 percent of those who took the gel had testosterone levels within a normal range after 90 days of using it.

The treatment option could benefit millions of men. Estimates have put the number of men who suffer from low testosterone at about 14 million. However, only about 1.3 million currently receive any sort of therapy for the condition.

Low testosterone levels have been connected to a wide range of chronic disease that can interfere with a man's quality of life. Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common conditions, but low levels of the hormone have also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.