Zytiga and prednisone combination approved for advanced prostate tumour

Zytiga (abiraterone acetate), used in combination with the steroid prednisone, has been approved to treat advanced prostate cancer, the US Food and Drug Administration said in a news release.

The growth of cancerous prostate tumours is fuelled by the male hormone testosterone, and the new drug combination blocks a protein that plays a key role in body’s production of testosterone, the agency said.

Zytiga was evaluated in clinical studies involving 1,195 men with advanced prostate cancer whose tumours continued to grow despite chemotherapy.

Men who received the Zytiga/prednisone combination lived an average of 14.8 months, compared with 10.9 months among men who took a placebo, the FDA said.

The most common adverse reactions to the drug combination included joint discomfort, low blood potassium, fluid retention, muscle discomfort, hot flashes, diarrhoea, urinary tract infection, cough, high blood pressure, heartbeat abnormalities, increased urinary frequency, upset stomach and upper respiratory infection.

Zytiga is produced by Centocor Ortho Biotech, based in Horsham.