PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Hoyle, Brian TI - Kisspeptin/GPR54 Agonist Peptide Analog Shows Promise as a Medical Castration Compound DP - 2013 Nov 01 TA - MD Conference Express PG - 11--11 VI - 13 IP - 10 4099 - http://mdc.sagepub.com/content/13/10/11.1.short 4100 - http://mdc.sagepub.com/content/13/10/11.1.full AB - TAK-488 is an oligopeptide analog of kisspeptin, which is a hypothalmic protein that activates the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR54 [Navarro VM, Tena-Sempere M. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2011]. A randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study that used various, continuously administered doses of TAK-488 has demonstrated its safety, tolerability, and effectiveness in suppressing pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicular-stimulating hormone, which are key in the regulation of testosterone synthesis. Accordingly, serum testosterone declined to below castrate levels in most of the healthy male volunteers.