Darolutamide

WHIPPANY, NJ, USA I June 03, 2025 I Bayer announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its oral androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) NUBEQA ® (darolutamide) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), which is also known as metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). The approval is based on positive results from the pivotal Phase III ARANOTE trial, which demonstrated a significant reduction of 46% in the risk of radiographic progression or death (rPFS) for those treated with NUBEQA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to placebo plus ADT (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.41-0.71; p<0.0001). 1 The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III ARANOTE trial was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of NUBEQA plus ADT in patients with mCSPC. 1 A total of 669 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either 600 mg of NUBEQA (N=446) or placebo (N=223) twice daily in addition to ADT. 1 NUBEQA is indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with mCSPC, both with and without docetaxel, and for the treatment of adult patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). 2 “Clinical data from the ARANOTE trial supporting this new regimen showed that NUBEQA plus ADT demonstrated powerful efficacy in men with mCSPC,” said Fred Saad, M.D., Professor and Chairman of Surgery and Director of Genitourinary Oncology at the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM) and principal investigator of the ARANOTE trial. “Today’s approval further expands physicians’ options for using NUBEQA with and without docetaxel in this setting, providing a potential new choice for patients.” Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cause of cancer death in men worldwide. 3 In 2020, an estimated 1.4 million men worldwide were diagnosed with prostate cancer, including nearly 300,000 in the U.S., and about 375,000 men died from the disease worldwide. 4,5 Prostate cancer diagnoses are projected to increase to 2.9 million worldwide by 2040. 6 “This approval, which is supported by strong clinical data, reaffirms NUBEQA as an important therapy for men with prostate cancer and underscores our commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for patients and their families,” said Christine Roth, Executive Vice President, Global Product Strategy and Commercialization and Member of the Pharmaceuticals Leadership Team at Bayer. “We thank the scientists, doctors, patients and their families who made it possible to provide this new treatment option for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.” Results from the Phase III ARANOTE trial, presented at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress and published in The Journal of Clinical Oncolog y . 1 Results of the radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) analysis were consistent across prespecified subgroups, including a 40% risk reduction (HR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44-0.80) with NUBEQA plus ADT in patients with high-volume mCSPC and a 70% risk reduction (HR 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15-0.60) in patients with low-volume disease. 1 The results were consistent with the established safety profile of NUBEQA. Rates of serious adverse events were similar between the treatment arms (24% for NUBEQA plus ADT compared to 24% for placebo plus ADT). 1,2 Discontinuation due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 6% for patients treated with NUBEQA plus ADT compared to 9% in patients receiving placebo plus ADT. 1,2 About the ARANOTE Trial 7 The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III ARANOTE trial study assessed the efficacy and safety of NUBEQA plus ADT in patients with mCSPC. A total of 669 patients were randomized to receive 600 mg of NUBEQA twice daily or matching placebo in addition to ADT. The primary endpoint was rPFS, measured as time from randomization to date of first documented radiographic progressive disease or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. About NUBEQA ® (darolutamide) 2 NUBEQA ® (darolutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) with a distinct chemical structure that competitively inhibits androgen binding, AR nuclear translocation, and AR-mediated transcription. NUBEQA was developed jointly by Bayer and Orion Corporation, a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company. NUBEQA is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com . © 2025 Bayer BAYER, the Bayer Cross and NUBEQA are registered trademarks of Bayer. Find more information at www.pharma.bayer.com Our online press service is just a click away: www.bayer.us/en/newsroom Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pharma.bayer Follow us on X: https://X.com/BayerUS References SOURCE: Bayer

The FDA on Tuesday approved Bayer's Nubeqa (darolutamide) as a monotherapy for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). The US regulator had previously cleared the androgen receptor inhibitor in combination with docetaxel for the same patient population. The green light was based on results of the Phase III ARANOTE study, which were presented at last year's European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress. The trial enrolled 669 patients with mCSPC who were either taking standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or had prior bilateral orchiectomy; participants were randomised to receive either Nubeqa or placebo. On the study's primary endpoint of radiological progression-free survival (rPFS), Nubeqa led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement of 46% over placebo. Bayer also reported that patients taking the androgen receptor inhibitor with high-volume mCSPC saw a 40% risk reduction, while those with low-volume disease had a 70% risk reduction in those with low-volume disease.However, there was no statistically significant improvement in overall survival at the final analysis.Nubeqa's label will feature warnings and precautions for ischaemic heart disease, seizure and embryo-foetal toxicity.Sales of the drug surged 75.3% to €1.5 billion last year; Bayer expects combined sales of Nubeqa and chronic kidney disease drug Kerendia to be above €2.5 billion for 2025. The drugmaker has targeted peak sales for Nubeqa of over €3 billion ($3.3 billion).