Xbira 250 mg contains abiraterone acetate, an oral medicine used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It is usually prescribed together with a low‑dose corticosteroid such as prednisone. Abiraterone lowers the body’s production of male hormones that drive prostate‑cancer growth. Because it comes as a tablet taken at home, Xbira offers a convenient alternative to some hospital‑based therapies.

Mechanism of action

After swallowing, abiraterone acetate is converted to abiraterone in the bloodstream.
Abiraterone blocks CYP17A1, an enzyme essential for making testosterone and other androgens in the adrenal glands, the testes, and within the tumour itself.
With androgen production sharply reduced, prostate‑cancer cells are deprived of the signals they need to grow and spread.

Therapeutic uses

Xbira is licensed for two clinical settings.
• Metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer when the disease continues to progress despite very low testosterone levels.
• Metastatic high‑risk castration‑sensitive prostate cancer in newly diagnosed patients, in combination with standard androgen‑deprivation therapy.

The usual adult dose is one thousand milligrams daily (four tablets) taken on an empty stomach, together with oral prednisone to offset hormone‑related side effects.

Adverse effects

Common reactions
Nausea or indigestion
Fluid retention causing ankle or leg swelling
Raised blood pressure
Low blood potassium which can provoke muscle cramps or weakness
Tiredness and joint pain

Less common but clinically important
Liver‑enzyme elevations requiring periodic blood tests
Heart rhythm disturbances or chest discomfort, especially in patients with pre‑existing cardiovascular disease
Adrenal insufficiency if the companion steroid is stopped too quickly