U.S. FDA approves third indication of darolutamide for patients with advanced prostate cancer

Core Insights - The U.S. FDA has approved darolutamide in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), marking the third indication for this drug [2][9] - The approval is based on the Phase III ARANOTE trial, which demonstrated a 46% reduction in the risk of radiological progression or death compared to placebo plus ADT [2][10] - Darolutamide is already approved in over 85 markets globally for various indications related to prostate cancer, including mHSPC and non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) [5][6] Company Overview - Darolutamide, marketed as Nubeqa®, achieved blockbuster status with annual sales of EUR 1.52 billion reported by Bayer for the full year of 2024 [6] - The drug is developed jointly by Orion and Bayer, indicating a strong collaboration in the oncology sector [6][11] - Orion Corporation has a robust clinical development program for darolutamide, exploring its efficacy across various stages of prostate cancer [13] Industry Context - Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, with an estimated 1.5 million diagnoses and approximately 397,000 deaths worldwide in 2022 [4] - The incidence of prostate cancer is projected to rise to 2.9 million by 2040, highlighting the growing need for effective treatment options [4] - The ARANOTE trial involved 669 patients and assessed the efficacy and safety of darolutamide plus ADT, reinforcing the drug's established safety profile [7][8]