JANSSEN
The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson is delighted with the recent announcement from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to include abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA® ) for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), in the updated Essential Medicines List, published on 9th July 2019.1,2
The WHO’s Essential Medicines List is a core guidance document that helps countries prioritise critical health products that are recommended to be widely available and affordable throughout health systems.1
“The inclusion of abiraterone acetate in the WHO Essential Medicines List highlights the critical role that this treatment can play in improving the lives of patients living with mCRPC and their families,” said Dr. Joaquín Casariego, Janssen Therapeutic Area Lead Oncology for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Janssen-Cilag S.A. “I am proud that we are working hard to impact survival and quality of life by developing and providing innovative medicines which are supported by the highest quality scientific evidence.”
The foundation of Janssen’s scientific understanding in prostate cancer is based on the knowledge acquired through the development of innovative treatment options for mCRPC. Abiraterone acetate is an oral androgen biosynthesis inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of both mCRPC and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, in Europe.3,4
“The addition of abiraterone acetate to the Essential Medicines List is a significant milestone for Janssen Oncology, reflecting the tireless efforts in recent years to bring optimal treatment options to patients with mCRPC,” said Biljana Naumovic, Vice President Commercial Strategy Lead Oncology for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Cilag GmbH International. “This direction from the WHO further emphasises that our work is not yet over. It is critical that patients with prostate cancer have access to treatments that their clinicians feel can benefit them and that we continue to support the prostate cancer community in our common goal of making cancer a manageable and potentially one day, a curable condition.”
# ENDS #
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we’re creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We’re the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea . Follow us at www.twitter.com/janssenEMEA for our latest news. Janssen-Cilag S.A. and Cilag GmbH International are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
About abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA®
)
Abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone is an approved therapy in mCRPC that inhibits production of androgens (which fuel prostate cancer growth) at all three sources that are important in prostate cancer - the testes, adrenals and the tumour itself.4,5,6
Abiraterone acetate is an oral therapy, taken in combination with prednisone/prednisolone for the treatment of:4
- newly diagnosed high risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in adult men in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
- mCRPC in adult men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of ADT in whom chemotherapy is not yet clinically indicated
- mCRPC in adult men whose disease has progressed on or after a docetaxel based chemotherapy regimen
###
References
1
World Health Organisation. WHO updates global guidance on medicines and diagnostic tests to address health challenges, prioritize highly effective therapeutics, and improve affordable access. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-07-2019-who-updates-global-guidance-on-medicines-and-diagnostic-tests-to-address-health-challenges-prioritize-highly-effective-therapeutics-and-improve-affordable-access
. Last accessed July 2019.
2
World Health Organisation. World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325771/WHO-MVP-EMP-IAU-2019.06-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
. Last accessed July 2019.
3
Bedoya DJ and Mitsiades N (2012). Abiraterone acetate, a first-in-class CYP17 inhibitor, establishes a new treatment paradigm in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Expert Rev. Anticancer Ther. 12(1), 1–3.
4
European Medicines Agency. Zytiga Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/zytiga-epar-product-information_en.pdf
. Last accessed July 2019.
5
Hoy, SM. et al. Abiraterone Acetate: A review of its use in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer drugs. Drugs 2013; 73:2077-2091.
6
Ritch, CR. Cookson, MS. Advances in the management of castration resistant prostate cancer. BMJ. 2016 Oct 17;355:i4405. Doi: 10.1136/bmj.i4405.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190719005230/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
The Blind Sailor Takes the Stage at WEF: "HIRO’s CHOICE" Project to Set Sail13.1.2026 05:00:00 CET | Press release
A Solo, Non-Stop Crossing of the Pacific Ocean “Blind Sailor Single-Handed Pacific Crossing Project 2027” is a world-first initiative in which Mitsuhiro Iwamoto, a completely blind Japanese yachtsman (blind sailor) based in San Diego, will attempt a solo, non-stop trans-Pacific crossing in the spring of 2027. Sailing a 28-foot yacht single-handedly, he aims to cross the Pacific Ocean from San Diego on the U.S. West Coast to Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, without making port. Iwamoto will speak about this project at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, to be held in January 2026. Project URL: https://hiros-choice.com/ This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260108087321/en/ Hiro Iwamoto / Global Keynote Speaker, First Totally Blind Sailor to Cross the Pacific The message he most wishes to convey at the WEF is the power of choice. He lost his sight at the age of sixteen—a moment when he nearly gave up on
MarkLines Gen-AI Beta Version Released for Automotive Industry13.1.2026 01:00:00 CET | Press release
MarkLines Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Makoto Sakai; TYO:3901) announced its launch of the "MarkLines Gen-AI Beta Version," the new feature for B2B users in the automotive industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112383839/en/ "MarkLines Gen-AI Beta Version" can take questions in natural language and instantly give highly reliable, relevant data drawn from MarkLines’ extensive automotive database (Image: MarkLines Co., Ltd.) This AI-powered feature enables users to ask questions in natural language and instantly receive highly reliable, relevant data drawn from MarkLines’ extensive automotive database. Moreover, the system analyzes this information by leveraging the rich content across its platform and delivers clear, concise, text-based insights. By combining trusted data with advanced analytical capabilities through generative AI, this service represents a first-of-its-kind
Australian Defence Force Secures Satellite Communications on SES IS-2212.1.2026 22:30:00 CET | Press release
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041 Satellite communications solutions provider SES will provide secure uninterrupted satellite communications to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for a minimum of 16 years thanks to a new extended agreement. The service will be provided via the SES Intelsat 22 satellite and an ultra-high frequency (UHF) military communications payload. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112137182/en/ Assistant Secretary Space Systems Branch, Michael Hunt, formalizes contract negotiations for the through-life support of the IS-22 satellite with Rory Welch, senior vice-president of service delivery at SES Space and Defense. Photos: Corporal Annika Smit Under the renewed arrangement, SES will reposition the IS-22 satellite to a new orbital slot specified by the ADF, continuing a mission that has been the corne
NetApp Appoints Paul Fipps to the Board of Directors12.1.2026 22:05:00 CET | Press release
NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today announced that Paul Fipps, President of Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow, has joined its Board of Directors. The board now has ten directors, nine of whom are independent, and 50% of whom have been appointed within the last five years. Fipps brings more than 20 years of experience driving technology-enabled growth and customer transformation. At ServiceNow, he currently leads global sales, customer success, partner ecosystems, and field operations. He previously served as EVP of Worldwide Sales at ServiceNow and as President of Under Armour Connected Fitness and Chief Experience Officer at Under Armour, overseeing global direct-to-consumer, connected fitness, and digital experiences. He also previously served on the advisory board of Quantum Metric. Fipps holds a B.S. in Information Systems, an MBA from the University of Baltimore, and is a graduate of The Wharton School’s Advanced Management Program. “P
FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Pimicotinib for the Treatment of Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor12.1.2026 20:00:00 CET | Press release
Not intended for Canada-, UK- or US-based media Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s new drug application (NDA) for pimicotinib as a systemic treatment for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The application is based on the primary results and longer-term follow-up of the global Phase 3 MANEUVER study, which demonstrated deep and durable tumor responses and meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes with pimicotinib. “With pimicotinib, we have an opportunity to significantly advance care for people living with TGCT, a painful and debilitating disease that has few effective and well-tolerated treatment options beyond surgery,” said David Weinreich, Global Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer for the Healthcare business of Merck. “Based on clinical trial results showing not only a reduction in tumor burden, but also the ability to help alleviate symptoms like pain an
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom