Abiraterone Acetate Included in WHO’s Essential Medicines List

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced the World Health Organization (WHO) will include abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA®) for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), in the updated Essential Medicines List, published on 9th July 2019.

The WHO’s Essential Medicines List is a core guidance document that helps countries prioritize critical health products that are recommended to be widely available and affordable throughout health systems.

"The inclusion of abiraterone acetate in the WHO Essential Medicines List highlights the critical role that this treatment can play in improving the lives of patients living with mCRPC and their families," said Dr. Joaquín Casariego, Janssen Therapeutic Area Lead Oncology for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Janssen-Cilag S.A. "I am proud that we are working hard to impact survival and quality of life by developing and providing innovative medicines which are supported by the highest quality scientific evidence."

The foundation of Janssen’s scientific understanding in prostate cancer is based on the knowledge acquired through the development of innovative treatment options for mCRPC. Abiraterone acetate is an oral androgen biosynthesis inhibitor that is approved for the treatment of both mCRPC and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, in Europe.

"The addition of abiraterone acetate to the Essential Medicines List is a significant milestone for Janssen Oncology, reflecting the tireless efforts in recent years to bring optimal treatment options to patients with mCRPC," said Biljana Naumovic, Vice President Commercial Strategy Lead Oncology for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Cilag GmbH International. "This direction from the WHO further emphasizes that our work is not yet over. It is critical that patients with prostate cancer have access to treatments that their clinicians feel can benefit them and that we continue to support the prostate cancer community in our common goal of making cancer a manageable and potentially one day, a curable condition."

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