USA — Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has announced the availability of a new 240mg strength tablet for its prostate cancer drug Erleada (apalutamide) in the United States.
Prostate cancer remains a major health concern in the United States, with statistics from the American Cancer Society indicating that it is the most prevalent form of cancer among men, second only to skin cancer.
Erleada is classified as an androgen receptor inhibitor (ARI) and is used to treat non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC).
The introduction of the higher strength tablet provides patients with the option to take the medication once-daily in a single tablet form.
Previously, the drug was only available in a 60mg tablet form, which required four tablets to be taken daily.
This new dosing option provides a more convenient treatment option for patients and could potentially improve patient adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen.
Dr. Luca Dezzani, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Solid Tumor, Janssen Scientific Affairs, emphasized that each patient’s cancer and medical needs are unique, and as such, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment.
He went on to explain that the availability of both 240mg and 60mg strength options of Erleada demonstrates Janssen’s commitment to providing prostate cancer patients and their prescribers with dosing and administration flexibility to meet each patient’s individual needs.
The availability of the new higher strength tablet for Erleada represents a significant development in the treatment of prostate cancer.
With the convenience of a once-daily, single tablet regimen, this new dosing option may help improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
In its 2022 annual report, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson identified Erleada as a key growth driver.
The report showed that the drug had generated US$1.88 billion in sales in 2022, a significant increase from US$1.2 billion in 2021.
Moreover, the report highlighted that over 100,000 patients worldwide have been treated with Erleada, emphasizing its importance in the treatment of prostate cancer.
While the availability of a higher strength tablet provides more convenience to patients, there is a growing interest in studying different dosing regimens for clinical trials.
Substance use disorders have demonstrated that higher doses in lesser quantity can improve adherence in clinical trials.
In this regard, attention has turned to the potential benefits of alternative dosing schedules for Erleada.
Moreover, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended guidelines for drug dose optimization models in cancer.
The FDA has previously requested that pharmaceutical companies such as Amgen test drugs again at lower doses.
Such guidelines aim to improve patient safety, optimize therapeutic outcomes and reduce drug-related adverse effects.
In separate news, Pluvicto, a drug used to treat advanced prostate cancer, is in short supply, the Food and Drug Administration reported last week, leaving patients and healthcare providers with limited options.
Meanwhile, last year Janssen Kenya signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to make its prescription drug, Abiraterone Acetate, available to NHIF members for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer within their existing benefits package.
This partnership is part of a strategic development to expand access to quality treatment in Kenya and is aimed at facilitating access to innovator drugs at affordable rates as the country rolls out its Universal Health Coverage (UHC) national rollout.
The NHIF covers up to 10 chemotherapy sessions, oral and injectable anti-cancer drugs, inpatient, and outpatient oncology services, 20 sessions for radiotherapy, and up to two sessions for Brachytherapy for advanced cancer per year.
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