The prostate cancer market is roaring ahead thanks to Johnson & Johnson's
Approval of the drug, which will be marketed as Zytiga, came considerably earlier than its PDUFA date of June 20. Ironically -- or perhaps a sign the agency loves prostate cancer drugs -- sanofi-aventis' Jevtana, which Zytiga will compete with, had a similar experience. Both drugs are approved for prostate cancer patients that have failed a round of sanofi's Taxotere.
Dendreon's
Johnson & Johnson's, Dendreon's, and Sanofi's biggest problem might not be competing among themselves, but the plethora of prostate cancer drugs in development. Medivation's
Roaring ahead tends to be good for patients, but not so much for those already on the market.