Zytiga launched for advanced prostate cancer

PHARMACOLOGY

By inhibiting CYP17 (17alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase), abiraterone blocks the synthesis of testosterone in the adrenal glands and testes, as well as in the prostate tumour itself.¹

CLINICAL STUDIES

Approval of abiraterone was based on a randomised, double-blind phase 3 trial in 1195 men with metastatic prostate cancer who had previously received docetaxel. In this trial, men who were given abiraterone 1g daily, plus low-dose prednisone or prednisolone, lived for a median of 14.8 months compared with 10.9 months for men taking placebo plus prednisolone or prednisone.¹ This difference translated into a 35.4% reduction in the risk of death with abiraterone compared with placebo (95% CI 23–46%; p<0.001).²

The proportion of patients who experienced a 30% reduction in the worst pain intensity was also significantly greater with abiraterone than placebo (44% vs 27%; p=0.0002).

View Zytiga drug record

Further information: Janssen-Cilag