Zytiga's Use Expanded for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Decreases body's production of testosterone

MONDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) has been expanded to include treating late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer before the administration of chemotherapy, the agency said Monday.

The drug, designed to decrease production of the male sex hormone testosterone, was first approved in November 2011. Testosterone is thought to spur the growth of prostate tumors, the FDA said in a news release.

Zytiga's approval for the new use followed a clinical study of 1,088 men with advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer who hadn't received chemotherapy. Men who took Zytiga had a median survival of 35.3 months, compared to 30.1 months among those who took a placebo.

The most common adverse reactions included fatigue, swollen joints, hot flushes, diarrhea, vomiting, cough and high blood pressure.

Zytiga is marketed by Janssen Biotech, based in Horsham, Penn.

More information

To learn more about prostate cancer (http://www.cdc.gov/features/prostatecancer/ ), visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-- Scott Roberts

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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