AstraZeneca reports positive results from prostate cancer trial

AstraZeneca announced positive results from a phase three prostate cancer trial on Monday, reporting that its AKT inhibitor ‘Truqap’, or capivasertib, in combination with abiraterone and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), significantly improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) in patients with PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

The FTSE 100 pharmaceutical giant said it marked the first time an AKT inhibitor combination had shown clinical benefit in that subtype of prostate cancer.

It said the trial's primary endpoint was met, with the Truqap combination outperforming a placebo combination of abiraterone and ADT in reducing disease progression.

Although overall survival (OS) data remained immature, an early trend toward improved OS was seen.

AstraZeneca said it would continue to monitor OS as a key secondary endpoint.

It said prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men and a significant global health concern, with metastatic forms linked to particularly poor outcomes.

PTEN-deficient tumours, found in about one-quarter of newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer cases, are associated with even worse prognoses.

The safety profile of Truqap in the combination was consistent with existing data for the individual therapies.

AstraZeneca said it would present the full trial data at an upcoming medical conference and engage with global regulatory bodies regarding the results.

“These results show for the first time, that adding an AKT inhibitor to a standard-of-care therapy can provide benefit to patients with a biomarker of PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer,” said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s executive vice-president of oncology research and development.

“By targeting a key driver of the disease, we have been able to improve upon current therapies and demonstrate the potential role of this combination in an area of critical unmet need.

“It will be important to see greater maturity in key secondary endpoints including overall survival.”

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.