Business Wire

JANSSEN

9.2.2021 12:17:06 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Janssen Presents Results from Phase 3 ACIS Study in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated with Apalutamide▼ and Abiraterone Acetate Combination

FOR EMEA-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL TRADE AND MEDICAL MEDIA ONLY

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UK, BENELUX

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today presented results from the randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind Phase 3 ACIS study, which met the primary endpoint of radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with a 31 percent reduction in the risk of radiographic progression or death in patients with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients in the trial received either a combination of apalutamide and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (combination arm) or placebo and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (control arm).1 Results will be featured in an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, taking place virtually February 11-13, 2021 (Abstract #9; Rapid Abstract Session: Prostate Cancer, February 11 06:45 AM-8:00 PM CET).

The primary efficacy analysis showed median rPFS was extended by six months in patients treated in the combination arm compared with patients in the control arm (22.6 vs 16.6 months; hazard ratio [HR] 0.69 [95% CI, 0.58-0.83]; p<0.0001). The HR for radiographic progression or death as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) was 0.864 [95% CI, 0.718–1.040]. According to an updated analysis performed at a median follow-up time of 54.8 months, a 30 percent reduction in the risk of radiographic progression or death was shown in the combination arm compared with the control arm (median time to rPFS 24 vs 16.6 months: HR 0.70 [95% CI, 0.60-0.83]). No statistically significant difference was demonstrated for secondary endpoints including overall survival (OS), time to initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy, chronic opioid use, and pain progression between treatment arms.

The safety profile was consistent with prior studies of apalutamide, with no new safety signals observed. Grade 3/4 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 63.3 percent in the combination arm versus 56.2 percent in the control arm.1 Grade 3/4 TAEs that occurred more frequently in the combination versus control arm included fatigue (4.7 percent vs 3.9 percent), hypertension (20.6 versus 12.5 percent), fall (3.3 percent versus 0.6 percent), skin rash (4.5 percent vs. 0.4 percent), cardiac disorders (9 percent vs 5.7 percent), fractures and osteoporosis (4.1 percent vs 1.4 percent), and seizures (0.2 percent vs 0).1 Quality-of-life was comparable between treatment arms per Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate – (FACT-P Total).

##ENDS##

About the ACIS Study 1

ACIS is a Phase 3 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of apalutamide and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone compared to placebo and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in 982 patients with chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC disease who received ADT.1 Patients were randomised to receive either apalutamide and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone, or placebo and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone. The primary endpoint of the study was rPFS. Secondary endpoints of the study included OS, time to chronic opioid use, time to initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy, and time to pain progression.1

About Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) characterises cancer that no longer responds to ADT and has spread to other parts of the body. The most common metastatic sites are bones, followed by lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.2 Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Europe, representing 25 percent of all male new cancer cases diagnosed.3 More than one million men around the world are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.4

About apalutamide

Apalutamide is an orally administered, selective androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor approved in Europe and is indicated

  • in adult men for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who are at high risk of developing metastatic disease and
  • in adult men for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), also known as metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).5

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.

About abiraterone acetate

Abiraterone acetate, an orally administered androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, in combination with prednisone or prednisolone is approved in Europe for

  • the treatment of newly diagnosed high risk metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in adult men in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT);
  • the treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in adult men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of ADT in whom chemotherapy is not yet clinically indicated, and
  • the treatment of mCRPC in adult men whose disease has progressed on or after a docetaxel-based chemotherapy regimen.6

Additionally, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 8, 2018.7,8 Since its first approval in Europe in 2011, abiraterone acetate has been approved in combination with prednisone or prednisolone, in more than 105 countries and has been prescribed to more than 700,000 patients worldwide.9

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 Research & Development, LLC is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Date of preparation: February 2021

Job code: CP-209565

###

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding potential benefits and further benefits of apalutamide. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2019, including in the sections captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in the company’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov , www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References


1 Rathkopf. Dana E. Final Results From ACIS, a Randomized, Placebo (PBO)-Controlled Double-Blind Phase 3 Study of Apalutamide (APA) and Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone (AAP) Versus AAP in Patients (Pts) With Chemo-Naive Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC). Abstract #9.

2 Cancer.org. Understanding advanced cancer, metastatic cancer, and bone metastasis. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/advanced-cancer/what-is.html . Last accessed February 2021.

3 HEAL. Men Prostate cancer. Available https://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/prostate_testical.pdf Last accessed February 2021.

4 World Health Organization. "Globocan 2012: Prostate Cancer: Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide, 2012." http://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/pdf/fact-sheets/cancers/cancer-fact-sheets-19.pdf . Accessed February 2021.

5 European Medicines Agency. ERLEADA. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/erleada-epar-product-information_en.pdf . Last accessed February 2021.

6 European Medicines Agency. ZYTIGA. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/zytiga-epar-product-information_en.pdf , Last accessed February 2021.

7 ZYTIGA® U.S. Prescribing Information, October 2020.

8 Johnson & Johnson. Press Release. ZYTIGA® (abiraterone acetate) Plus Prednisone Approved for Treatment of Earlier Form of Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/zytiga-abiraterone-acetate-plus-prednisone-approved-for-treatment-of-earlier-form-of-metastatic-prostate-cancer . Last accessed January 2021

9 Data on file

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

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

Infobip Launches PitchMate — An AI Fan Companion for Global Football2.7.2026 12:00:00 CEST | Press release

Two AI agents. Two global sports. One platform redefining what it means to be a fan. Global AI-first cloud communications platform Infobip launched PitchMate, a new AI-powered conversational agent that brings football fans closer to the action of the world’s biggest football tournament. Purpose-built for the global football audience, PitchMate joins the TGR Haas F1 Team RaceMate — Infobip’s AI fan engagement solution for the TGR Haas F1 Team — in demonstrating how conversational AI is transforming fan engagement across sports worldwide. RaceMate, launched last April for this year’s motorsport season, is an AI agent on WhatsApp and Apple Messages for Business that puts TGR Haas F1 Team fans at the center of the action. It delivers real-time race data, personalized content, team radio highlights, trivia, and native multilingual support, turning passive viewers into active participants through natural, human-like conversations across every race weekend. Since its launch, RaceMate has reac

Besins Healthcare Strengthens Innovation Capabilities with Acquisition of UniD Manufacturing, a Specialist in Long-Acting Drug Delivery Technologies2.7.2026 11:00:00 CEST | Press release

Acquisition brings together Besins Healthcare's hormonal health leadership and UniD's expertise in the development and manufacturing of advanced polymer based pharmaceutical formulations.1UniD Manufacturing to become Besins Healthcare PharmTech, serving as a strategic innovation hub within the company while continuing to serve its clients. Besins Healthcare, a global pharmaceutical company specializing in hormonal health, today announced the acquisition of UniD Manufacturing, a Belgium-based pharmaceutical development and manufacturing company with more than 20 years of recognized expertise in long-acting drug delivery technologies.1 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260701779777/en/ Besins Healthcare Strengthens Innovation Capabilities with Acquisition of UniD Manufacturing, a Specialist in Long-Acting Drug Delivery Technologies This acquisition brings together two highly compatible areas. Besins Healthcare bri

ROYC Selected by Slättö as Structuring and Platform Solution for Luxembourg Feeder Fund2.7.2026 10:45:00 CEST | Press release

ROYC, a leading global structuring and platform provider, today announced that Slättö, a Nordic private markets real estate firm, has selected ROYC to establish and manage a Luxembourg-domiciled feeder fund designed to efficiently aggregate individual subscriptions from professional investors. The Luxembourg-domiciled vehicle will be fully structured and administered on ROYC’s proprietary platform, delivering investors a seamless digital experience with real-time portfolio access, automated reporting, and efficient global distribution. ROYC streamlines onboarding and governance, standardizes legal documentation, and broadens access to capital. “Private markets are undergoing a structural shift as global banks and wealth platforms increasingly seek efficient access to high-quality private equity strategies. By combining our deep structuring expertise with ROYC’s digital operating infrastructure, we enable leading managers like Slättö to launch investor-ready vehicles rapidly while deliv

From SaaS to OaaS: BearingPoint expands its business model and launches outcome-based marketplace2.7.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release

The new BearingPoint Store brings together AI agents, software products, and outcome-based services to help enterprises translate investments into measurable business results, on a trusted, GDPR-compliant foundation. Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint introduces the BearingPoint Store, a new marketplace that enables enterprises to discover, combine, and scale software solutions with a clear focus on business outcomes rather than standalone software. With this launch, the firm expands its product model beyond traditional software toward AI agents and outcome-based services. The Store is a curated destination where enterprises can discover, compare, and adopt solutions designed to deliver measurable business impact. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260702393148/en/ Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint introduces the BearingPoint Store, a new marketplace that enables enterprises to di

EVE Energy Strengthens European Operations Through Compliance, Local Manufacturing, and Regional Services2.7.2026 08:30:00 CEST | Press release

The Smarter E Europe 2026 opened in Munich on June 23 and runs through June 25, gathering global players from the clean energy sector on one of Europe’s most influential trade exhibition platforms. EVE Energy unveiled its Mr. Big Family series, a 6.9+ MWh energy storage system, all-scenario storage solutions, and high-performance EV batteries — showcasing its lithium-sodium dual-technology platform, full product portfolio, and localized European operational layout. During the exhibition, European clients showed strong interest in the company’s product performance and placed strong emphasis on sustained adherence to the EU’s evolving regulatory standards. This industry attitude further underscores that regulatory compliance readiness has become a fundamental prerequisite for accessing the European clean energy market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260701651416/en/ The BMW iX3 displayed at the EVE Energy booth

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
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye