The annual cost of hormone-refractory prostate cancer therapies is rising, despite failing to meet desired survival rates, a report by healthcare specialists GlobalData has found.

The new study* found that the annual cost of prostate cancer therapy has risen dramatically since 2001 due to the increased uptake of chemotherapy using Taxotere. The expected launch of new therapies such as Provenge (sipuleucel-T) and evtana (cabazitaxel) are further expected to drive up the annual cost of therapy.

However, the prostate cancer market has relatively high unmet needs in terms of efficacy and safety, with efficacy being the major concern. This is particularly prominent for drugs that are able to treat prostate cancer patients in the earlier stages of development.

Hormone therapy, which often uses a combination LHRH agonists and androgen receptor antagonists, is a prominent treatment regime for prostate cancer sufferers. When patients stop responding to this therapy, Taxotere is the current standard of care.

The situation is worse in developing countries, where, in many cases, taxotere is the only key drug available for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Other drugs such as Provenge and Jevtana are yet to be launched, while available chemotherapy drugs such as Mitoxantrone and Estramustine have lower efficacy.

Current treatments using these drugs have failed to establish better efficacy and safety profiles than clinicians’ current targets. The key primary endpoint that clinicians target for efficacy in drugs tested for metastatic prostate cancer is a 24-month progression-free survival period and a 36- to 40-month overall survival period. The best overall survival currently offered is 25.8 months by Provenge and 36 months by leuprolide acetate.

Side effects recognized among the majority of current treatment regimens approved for metastatic prostate cancer include anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, sensory neuropathy, hot flashes, pain in the back, pelvis and stomach, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, infection, swollen ankles, blood in the urine, weakness, dizziness and anemia.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

The report is an essential source of information and analysis on the prostate cancer therapeutics market in BRIC. The report provides comprehensive information on prostate cancer, highlighting the treatment guidelines and usage patterns, and analyzes the key trends shaping and driving the prostate cancer therapeutics market in the region. The research also provides insights into the competitive landscape and the emerging players expected to challenge the market share of the existing market leaders. Valuable insights are given into the pipeline products and unmet needs within the global prostate cancer sector, highlighting opportunities for future entrants.

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