A New Prostate Cancer Drug Wows Doctors

It's hard to weed the hope from the hype when it comes to new cancer drugs, but a new study in this week's issue of Science introduces a drug worth paying attention to. Currently known by the uncharismatic designation MDV3100 (presumably it'll get a more memorable name before it gets to market) it's made by local San Francisco biotech Medivation and results of a Phase 1-2 trial were impressive. So impressive, in fact, that the company's rushing to launch a Phase 3 trial, and if you're a candidate I'd suggest trying to get into it. This drug's not going to be the next blockbuster, at least not soon, since its target patient population is fairly limited. But for those folks -- men with prostate cancer that's resistant to anti-androgens-- it could make a life or death difference. 

An unlucky subset of patients has prostate cancer that's "castration-resistant," which sounds like it should be good, but is in fact bad. CRPC means the tumors are resistant to traditional anti-androgen drugs, specifically bicalutamide, the regimen of choice. The men in Medivation's recent trial had already failed standard hormonal therapies, and many had also failed standard chemo as well. In other words, they were running out of options fast. In one third of the men who took it, MDV3100 showed a significant drop in PSA, a sign the medication worked to stop the tumor's advance. 

Medivation's a company to watch from a business and entrepreneurship standpoint as well. They developed the experimental Alzheimer's drug Dimebon, which Pfizer bought the rights to in September for $725 million.

There are still spots available in the ongoing Phase 1-2 open label trial, and a new Phase 3 study, announced March 19th, will enroll 1200 men across the country. If you or a man you love has CRPC that hasn't responded to chemo, find the closest trial center by visiting Medivation's trials page.