Key facts
- 77% of evaluable patients on JNJ-6143 saw PSA levels fall by at least 50%.
- 69% of patients with measurable tumors had a confirmed complete or partial response.
- Common side effects were nausea and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Johnson & Johnson's experimental once-daily oral prostate cancer drug, JNJ-6143, showed promising results in an early-stage trial, with tumors shrinking or disappearing in patients with advanced prostate cancer. The drug, acquired through a $3.05 billion deal to buy Halda Therapeutics, works by selectively killing cancer cells. Data presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress indicated that 77% of evaluable patients on the 50-milligram dose experienced at least a 50% drop in PSA levels, a key marker for prostate cancer. Among those with measurable tumors, 69% showed a confirmed response. Common side effects included nausea and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.