NEW YORK, April 23, 2013—Zytiga® (abiraterone acetate, Janssen) is now the most used first-line treatment in Stage IV prostate cancer patients in the United States, according to new findings from CancerMPact® Monthly Drugs and Regimens, which reports oncology drug use by tumor type, stage of disease and line of therapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zytiga to treat men with late-stage castrate-resistant prostate cancer prior to receiving chemotherapy in December 2012.
According to Monthly Drugs and Regimens data, Zytiga’s share of the first-line prostate cancer market had steadily increased to 30 percent since its launch in 2011 until the FDA’s expansion. Taxotere® (docetaxel, Sanofi), which was used to treat three-fourths of first-line patients before Zytiga’s launch, had seen its market share drop to 50 percent by December 2012. Within a month of the FDA’s ruling, use of Zytiga rose to 43 percent in first-line therapy, compared with Taxotere’s 40 percent.
“Zytiga is a second-generation hormonal agent, and after it was approved in metastatic prostate cancer it was expected to become the preferred treatment option for asymptomatic patients because of its favorable safety profile and high level of efficacy,” said David Robinson, vice president at Kantar Health. “The primary treatment in this setting was a chemotherapy regimen combining docetaxel and prednisone. However, many physicians were looking forward to a non-chemotherapy option like Zytiga because they prefer to withhold chemotherapy until patients are symptomatic to spare them the toxicity that comes along with chemotherapy.”
Monthly Drugs and Regimens data also shows that Zytiga is the preferred second-line treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, with a nearly 60 percent share of the market. In the third-line setting, Zytiga and another new agent, Xtandi® (enzalutamide, Medivation/Astellas), each is used in about 30 percent of patients.
“Xtandi was just approved in August 2012, and within its first four months on the market it was already being used in a third of third-line metastatic prostate cancer patients,” Robinson said. “Zytiga was first to this market, but ultimately the efficacy, safety and administration profiles of Xtandi and Zytiga will differentiate the two drugs and determine adoption into clinical practice.”
About CancerMPact® Monthly Drugs and Regimens
CancerMPact® Monthly Drugs and Regimens was developed by linking Kantar Health’s CancerMPact® Patient Metrics oncology epidemiology database and ImpactRx’s nationally representative oncology treatment data to present both historical and current cancer epidemiology and treatment estimates…all in one source. A rolling 37 months of historical information is available as easy-to-access data on patients per month on drugs and drug regimens by tumor type, stage of disease and line of therapy. Monthly Drugs and Regimens is available as a new mobile application for fast and convenient access via iPhone and iPad.
About CancerMPact®
CancerMPact® is an invaluable oncology decision support tool for market analysis, strategic planning and identification of commercial opportunities in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan and China. This tool is composed of web-based integrated modules: Treatment Practices and Evolution (Treatment Architecture and Future Trends and Insights), Patient Metrics, and Monthly Drugs and Regimens.
About Kantar Health
Kantar Health is a leading global healthcare advisory firm and trusted advisor to the world’s largest pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device and diagnostic companies. It combines evidence-based research capabilities with deep scientific, therapeutic and clinical knowledge, commercial development know-how, and marketing expertise to help clients launch products and differentiate their brands in the marketplace.
Kantar Health deeply understands the influence of patients, payers and physicians, especially as they relate to the performance and payment of medicines and the delivery of healthcare services. Its 700+ healthcare industry specialists work across the product lifecycle, from pre-clinical development to launch, acting as catalysts to successful decision making in life sciences and helping clients prioritize their product development and portfolio activities, differentiate their brands and drive product success post-launch. For more information, please visit www.kantarhealth.com.
