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Johnson & Johnson on Saturday said its experimental \u200conce-daily oral prostate cancer drug caused tumors to disappear or shrink in an early-stage trial.<\/strong><\/p>\n J&J had gained access to the \u200bdrug through its $3.05 billion deal to buy Halda Therapeutics \u200blast year.<\/p>\n Johnson & Johnson is testing its experimental drug JNJ-6143 in patients with advanced prostate cancer who have received multiple prior treatments.<\/p>\n The therapy takes a novel approach by selectively killing cancer cells by interfering with a protein they need to survive.<\/p>\n The early trial data is strong. Among 31 evaluable patients receiving the 50-milligram dose, 77% saw their PSA levels \u2014 a key blood marker used to monitor prostate cancer \u2014 fall by at least 50%. In 48% of patients, PSA levels dropped by at least 90%. Among patients whose tumors could be measured through imaging, 75% had a confirmed complete or partial response.<\/p>\n Analysts are optimistic about its potential. \u201cJNJ-6143 could be a game changer for the treatment of prostate cancer and for JNJ\u2019s oncology franchise prospects,\u201d said Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger. A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson added, \u201cIt adds a new mechanism of action to J&J\u2019s prostate cancer portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n The drug was generally well-tolerated. Common side effects were nausea and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Only one patient discontinued treatment due to adverse effects.<\/p>\n The data were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.<\/p>\n About JNJ-6143<\/strong><\/p>\n JNJ-6143 is an investigational, once-daily molecule that uses the novel RIPTAC platform. Its targeted dual-protein lock brings together BRD4, an essential protein for cell survival, and the tumor-selective protein, androgen receptor (AR), which is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, and is designed to disrupt cancer cell function and trigger cancer cell death.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n