Prostate-cancer prodigy Xtandi shines as pre-chemo treatment

Soon after Xtandi hit the market last year, analysts were figuring that the prostate cancer drug would help pump up that market to $9.1 billion by 2021. Already, the drug from Medivation ($MDVN) and Astellas is racking up big sales; it made FiercePharma's recent list of superstar drug launches, thanks to the $157.8 million it brought in for the first half of this year. And now, the drug has reached a key milestone: success in a Phase III trial eyeing Xtandi as a prechemo treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Independent monitors called for a halt, to allow patients in the control arm to receive Xtandi, too. According to the companies, Xtandi cut the risk of death by 30%, bringing overall survival to an estimated median of 32.4 months, compared with 30.2 months for patients in the placebo arm. The actual stats will be unveiled at a conference at some point. Story