Pfizer's Mevrometostat Shows Promise in Phase I Prostate Cancer Trial

Pfizer's experimental drug mevrometostat has demonstrated significant potential in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to early-stage clinical trial data inadvertently released ahead of schedule. The results, which were prematurely published on the website of the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, reveal a marked improvement in disease progression rates and overall survival for patients receiving the drug in combination with standard hormone therapy.

Phase I Trial Results

The Phase I trial, focusing on patients who had already undergone hormone treatment and one round of chemotherapy, showed that mevrometostat, when combined with standard hormone therapy, reduced disease progression rates by half. Moreover, the drug cut the risk of death by 49% in trial participants, signaling a potentially groundbreaking advancement in the treatment of this aggressive form of prostate cancer.

However, the treatment was not without side effects. The most common adverse reactions reported were diarrhea (78% of patients), decreased appetite (58.5%), and dysgeusia (58.5%).

Ongoing Research and Future Prospects

Pfizer is currently recruiting for two Phase III trials, MEVPRO-1 and MEVPRO-2, to further evaluate mevrometostat's efficacy in prostate cancer treatment. The drug, an inhibitor of the oncoprotein EZH2, represents a novel approach to tackling castration-resistant prostate cancer, a condition typically treated with androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapy.

Pfizer's Oncology Pipeline

The positive results for mevrometostat come at a time when Pfizer is preparing to release several critical updates from its oncology pipeline. The company expects to report Phase III data for vepdegestrant in breast cancer treatment and danuglipron for obesity later this quarter. Additionally, results for Padcev in combination with pembrolizumab for bladder cancer are anticipated later this year.

In a separate announcement, Pfizer revealed that Padcev, when used in combination with Merck's Keytruda, reduced the risk of death by 49% in urothelial cancer patients compared to chemotherapy. This development further underscores the company's strong position in the oncology field and its commitment to advancing cancer treatments across multiple indications.