Clinical application of GnRH-antagonists

Due to the different pharmacological mode of action, GnRH-antagonists seem to open up new avenues to hormonal treatment in several indications. Althou gh it may be still too early to speculate about the possible end of the era of GnRH-agonists, from what is known today, the advantages of GnRH-antagon ists are most evident in our opinion. When the development of sustained del ivery systems may continue and be completed, the antagonists will have a ma jor potential within benign gynecological conditions and also in the treatm ent of malignancies such as prostatic, mammary, endometrial or ovarian canc er. Suitable sustained delivery systems and the development of GnRH-antagon ists with sufficient oral bioavailability, represent the present and future challenge for these efforts. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.