J&J finds competitive edge with latest Erleada approval

Generic competition is eating away at J&J's prostate cancer empire. Sales of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) totaled $698 million in the second quarter, reflecting a 23% decline year over year. According to Iqvia data cited by SVB Leerink, J&J held 56% of the abiraterone acetate market for the week ending Sept. 6, a slip from the 63% it held a week prior. Apotex and Mylan, which each launched a generic form of Zytiga over the last year, had market shares of 26% and 16%, respectively. While Erleada (apalutamide) isn't big enough to warrant a line item in J&J's financial reports, its early growth is helping offset the Zytiga troubles. Chris DelOrefice, vice president of investor relations, said on the company's second quarter earnings call that the drug had gained four points of market share in the U.S. for its initial indication: non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Xtandi (enzalutamide) presents a barrier to growth, however. Pfizer has touted how Xtandi outpaced Erleada early on in the non-metastatic, castration-resistant setting — and how, more recently, it overtook Zytiga to become the leading branded agent for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer monotherapy.