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ERLEADA - Comparison of ERLEADA with Enzalutamide

Last Updated: 05/19/2025

SUMMARY

  • Apalutamide is an androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor that is structurally distinct from the AR inhibitor enzalutamide.1,2
  • Prospective, Randomized, Head-to-Head Studies
    • No studies comparing the efficacy and safety of ERLEADA with enzalutamide have been conducted.
  • Real-World, Retrospective Studies (Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer [mCSPC]) - Survival
    • Head-to-head, longitudinal study: compared overall survival (OS) at 24 months for patients who newly initiated ERLEADA (n=1810) vs enzalutamide (n=1909). Patients in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide weighted cohort had a 23% reduction in the risk of death (87.6% vs 84.6%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.96; P=0.019).3
    • ROME study: unadjusted real-world survival rates were as follows for the ERLEADA (n=234) and enzalutamide (n=527) cohorts, respectively: 91.5% vs 90.4% by 12 months, 87.9% vs 80.3% by 18 months, and 85.4% vs 73.9% by 24 months. By 24 months postindex, patients in the ERLEADA cohort had a 41% lower mortality rate relative to patients initiated on enzalutamide (unadjusted HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.95; P=0.030).4
    • OASIS study: upfront treatment with ERLEADA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT; n=315) compared with enzalutamide plus ADT (n=1181) was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death (adjusted HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51-0.87; P<0.01).5 
    • Comparative, multicenter study: compared the efficacy and safety of the AR pathway inhibitors (ARPIs), abiraterone, enzalutamide, and ERLEADA. Among patients treated with enzalutamide vs ERLEADA, there were no statistically significant differences in the >99% prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline rate at 3 months (P=0.3), 2‐year castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival (P=0.14), 3‐year OS (P=0.5), and cancer-specific survival (CSS; P=0.3) after applying propensity score matching. The most common adverse event (AE, any grade) was fatigue for enzalutamide (12%; n=15) and skin rash for ERLEADA (34%; n=48).6,7
  • Real-World, Retrospective Studies/Analyses (mCSPC) – PSA & Other Results
    • PROMPT-1 study: patients in the ERLEADA weighted cohort were 21% more likely to achieve ≥90% PSA reduction from baseline (PSA90) response compared with the enzalutamide weighted cohort (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.40; P=0.008) by 6 months postindex. The median time to PSA90 was 3.7 months vs 5.1 months, respectively.8
    • De novo study: 62.8% vs 49.6% of patients with de novo mCSPC in the ERLEADA and enzalutamide groups, respectively, achieved PSA90 at 6 months (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.11-1.74; P=0.004). The median time to PSA90 was 3.5 months vs 6.1 months, respectively.9
    • Summary of descriptive analyses for the rates of PSA90, undetectable PSA (≤0.2 ng/mL), progression to castration resistance (CR), castration resistance-free survival (CRFS), and/or OS in patients initiated on ERLEADA or enzalutamide are summarized in Tables: Clinical Outcome Results and Clinical Outcomes.10,11
    • Summary of PSA90 response was compared between patients initiated on ERLEADA or enzalutamide. Results are summarized in Table: PSA90 Response Results in ERLEADA vs Enzalutamide Groups.12 Additionally, PSA90 was assessed as well as undetectable PSA among patients initiated on ERLEADA or enzalutamide; results are summarized in Table: PSA Response Results in the ERLEADA and Enzalutamide Groups.13
    • In a retrospective analysis to compare real-world PSA response by 6 months in Black patients with ARPI-naïve mCSPC treated with ERLEADA (n=230) vs enzalutamide (n=221), 63.1% vs 52.4% of patients in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide cohorts had PSA90 response (weighted HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.06-1.91; P=0.020).14 
  • Real-World, Retrospective Studies (Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer [nmCRPC]) – Safety and Utilization: analyses describing the incidence and/or management of AEs in patients who received treatment with ERLEADA or enzalutamide,15,16 assessing the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs),17 and comparing utilization of ERLEADA and enzalutamide 18,19 have been reported.
  • Retrospective comparative analyses have been conducted in Taiwanese and Japanese patients with nmCRPC as well as a race subgroup analysis of Black and White patients with nmCRPC.20-22
  • Results from a retrospective, comparative, real-world, observational chart review study that included ERLEADA and enzalutamide treated patients with nmCRPC have been reported.23,24 
  • Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison (MAIC) Studies (nmCRPC): utilized data from the phase 3 registrational studies, SPARTAN (ERLEADA plus ADT vs placebo plus ADT) and PROSPER (enzalutamide plus ADT vs placebo plus ADT), have been reported.25,26

CLINICAL DATA

No prospective, randomized, head-to-head clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of ERLEADA with enzalutamide have been conducted.

Additional DATA

Retrospective Real-World Studies in Patients with mCSPC

Bilen et al (2024)3 conducted a head-to-head, real-world, retrospective, longitudinal study to evaluate OS at 24 months among United Status (US)-based patients with mCSPC who initiated ERLEADA (n=1810) or enzalutamide (n=1909) using clinical data from Precision Point Specialty (PPS) Analytics linked with claims data from Komodo Research Database from December 2018 to December 2023. This analysis utilized propensity score-weighted cohorts of ARPI-naïve patients newly initiated on ERLEADA or enzalutamide and followed an intent-to-treat design. The analysis used weighted Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the causal relationship between index treatment and OS, weighted Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis to assess the portion of patients surviving by 24 months post-index, and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) based on the propensity score to account for differences in baseline characteristics between both cohorts. Concurrent use of ADT was not required; 79.2% vs 77.8% patients were receiving ADT at baseline in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide weighted cohorts, respectively.

Patients in the ERLEADA cohort had a 23% reduction in the risk of death compared with enzalutamide (87.6% vs 84.6%; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.96; P=0.019). When evaluating OS using all available follow-up at 48 months postindex, results were 75.6% vs 68.1% in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide weighted cohorts, respectively (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.93; nominal P=0.008); this endpoint was not adjusted for multiple comparisons. Therefore, the P-value displayed is nominal, and statistical significance has not been established. The mean (median) follow-up period was 17.2 (20.1) months vs 17.2 (20.1) months and duration of continuous index ARPI use was 9.6 (6.9) months vs 8.6 (6.4) months in patients who initiated ERLEADA vs enzalutamide, respectively.

Bilen et al (2024)4 conducted a real-world, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study to evaluate survival among US-based patients with mCSPC who initiated ERLEADA (n=234) or enzalutamide (n=527) using electronic health record data from the Flatiron Metastatic Prostate Cancer Core Registry from January 2013 to May 2023 (ROME study). Concurrent use of ADT was not required for inclusion however most patients (>84%) had prior use of ADT before treatment initiation. The median time between metastasis and index treatment initiation was 2.3 months in the ERLEADA cohort and 2.8 months in the enzalutamide cohort.

Using KM analysis, unadjusted real-world survival rates were as follows for the ERLEADA and enzalutamide cohorts, respectively: 91.5% vs 90.4% by 12 months, 87.9% vs 80.3% by 18 months, and 85.4% vs 73.9% by 24 months. By 24 months postindex, patients in the ERLEADA cohort had a 41% lower mortality rate relative to patients initiated on enzalutamide (unadjusted HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.95; P=0.030). The median time on treatment and observation period was 10.9 months and 13.3 months in the ERLEADA cohort and 11.1 months and 14.8 months in the enzalutamide cohort.

Maughan et al (2024)5 conducted a real-world, retrospective, observational cohort study to evaluate the impact of the starting treatment on short-term and long-term clinical outcomes in US patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) (OASIS study). Patients with an mHSPC diagnosis from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2023, in the ConcertAI database who started with any relevant upfront treatment (≥1 cycle of any ARPI, ADT, combined androgen blockade, docetaxel, radiotherapy, or prostatectomy) were included. Enrollment included 4937 patients in the comparative analysis, including upfront treatment started with ERLEADA plus ADT (n=315) and enzalutamide plus ADT (n=1181).

At 24 months, 66% of patients in the ERLEADA plus ADT group and 55% of patients in the enzalutamide plus ADT group were alive. Results obtained using adjusted (adjusted for age, comorbidities, body mass index, and baseline PSA level) multivariate Cox regression with IPTW are shown in Table: Pair-Wise Comparison of Adjusted HRs by Upfront Treatment With ERLEADA Plus ADT vs Enzalutamide Plus ADT.


Pair-Wise Comparison of Adjusted HRs by Upfront Treatment With ERLEADA Plus ADT vs Enzalutamide Plus ADT5
Upfront Treatment
Adjusted HR (95% CI)
P-Value
ERLEADA + ADT vs Enzalutamide + ADT
   PSA50 at any time
1.4 (1.2-1.7)
<0.001
   PSA90 at any time
1.5 (1.2-1.8)
<0.001
   Undetectable PSA at any time
1.4 (1.1-1.7)
<0.01
   OS
0.66 (0.51-0.87)
<0.01
   Castration-free survival
0.68 (0.50-0.91)
<0.01
Abbreviations: ADT, androgen deprivation therapy; CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio; OS, overall survival; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; PSA50, ≥50% PSA reduction from baseline; PSA90, ≥90% PSA reduction from baseline.

Yanagisawa et al (2025)6 conducted a real-world study to compare the efficacy and safety of the ARPIs abiraterone, enzalutamide, and ERLEADA, in high-risk patients with mHSPC (N=668). Japanese patients treated with ARPI-based doublet therapy between September 2015 and February 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Overall, 127 patients were treated with enzalutamide and 142 patients were treated with ERLEADA. Propensity score matching was applied for pairwise comparisons.

Among patients treated with enzalutamide vs ERLEADA, there were no differences in the >99% PSA decline rate at 3 months (P=0.3), 2‐year CRPC‐free survival (P=0.14), 3‐year OS (P=0.5), and CSS (P=0.3). The most common any grade AE was fatigue for enzalutamide (12%; n=15) and skin rash for ERLEADA (34%; n=48).

Lowentritt et al (2025)14 presented results from a retrospective real-world study that compared the proportion of patients with a PSA90 response by 6 months in Black patients with ARPI-naïve mCSPC who were treated with ERLEADA (n=230) or enzalutamide (n=221).

The longitudinal causal analysis was conducted using clinical data from >90 urology practice sites in the US linked with insurance claims data (study period: September 17, 2018, to December 31, 2023). IPTW based on propensity scores was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics between both cohorts. The observation period spanned from the index date to index treatment discontinuation; initiation of a non-index ARPI or radiopharmaceutical agent; or end of insurance, clinical activity, or data availability.

Baseline patient characteristics were evaluated in the 12 months preceding the index date and were well-balanced between the weighted cohorts, with standardized differences being <10%. Using KM analysis, PSA90 response by 6 months were as follows for the ERLEADA and enzalutamide cohorts, respectively: 63.1% vs 52.4% (weighted HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.06-1.91; P=0.020). This result was consistent when using all available follow-up (weighted HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01-1.76). Furthermore, PSA90 response was attained earlier in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide cohort (3.3 vs 5.5 months). By 6 months post-index, 77.0% patients in the ERLEADA-weighted cohort and 77.7% in the enzalutamide-weighted cohort had a post-index PSA measurement.

Lowentritt et al (2024)8 conducted a real-world, retrospective, longitudinal propensity score-weighted cohort study to evaluate PSA90 response by 6 months in patients with mCSPC newly initiated on ERLEADA (n=862) or enzalutamide (n=871) using data from the Komodo Health Solutions Research Database from December 16, 2018, to September 30, 2022 (PROMPT-1). Concurrent use of ADT was not required for inclusion however most patients (>86%) in the IPTW population had prior use of ADT before treatment initiation. Mean baseline PSA was 22.7 ng/mL and 23.3 ng/mL in the ERLEADA and enzalutamide weighted cohorts, respectively.

There were 81.4% of patients in the ERLEADA weighted cohort vs 77.5% of patients in the enzalutamide weighted cohort with a postindex PSA measurement. By 6 months postindex, patients in the ERLEADA weighted cohort were 21% more likely to achieve PSA90 response compared with the enzalutamide weighted cohort (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.40; P=0.008). The same trend was observed over the entire observation period (P=0.008). At 6 months, 62.5% vs 53.8% of patients achieved PSA90 in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide cohorts, with a median time to PSA90 of 3.7 months vs 5.1 months, respectively.

Lowentritt et al (2024)9 conducted retrospective real-world analyses to evaluate PSA90 response at 6 months in next-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI)-naïve patients with de novo mCSPC initiating ERLEADA (n=332) or enzalutamide (n=383) using data from the Komodo Health Solutions Research Database from December 16, 2019, to September 30, 2022.

A weighted KM analysis was used to assess the proportion of patients who achieved a PSA90 response. A weighted Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the time to PSA90 response. Patients were required to have the first ERLEADA or enzalutamide dispensation or pharmacy claim on or after the index date, de novo mCSPC (metastatic diagnosis observed ≤180 days after the initial prostate cancer diagnosis), ≥12 months of preindex clinical activity, and ≥1 PSA measurement within 13 weeks before the index date.

The mean preindex PSA level was 32.7 vs 32.6 ng/mL in the ERLEADA and enzalutamide groups, respectively. By 6 months postindex, 81.0% of patients in the ERLEADA group and 75.2% of patients in the enzalutamide group had ≥1 PSA test. At 6 months, 62.8% vs 49.6% of patients achieved PSA90 in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide group (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.11-1.74; P=0.004), with a median time to PSA90 of 3.5 vs 6.1 months, respectively.

Lowentritt et al (2023)10 conducted a real-world, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study to evaluate PSA outcomes and disease progression in patients with mCSPC that were initiated on ERLEADA (n=589) or enzalutamide (n=597). The study also included data for patients who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate; however, the results for this cohort are not summarized below.

KM analyses were used to assess the rates of PSA90, PSA 0.2, progression to CR, and CRFS separately for each cohort. All analyses were descriptive and were not adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Patients were required to have ≥12 months of clinical activity prior to the index date. Concurrent use of ADT was not required for inclusion in either cohort. Among the exclusion criteria were prior use of an ARSI before the index date or the use of ≥2 ARSIs on the index date and prior use of any radiopharmaceuticals.

Most patients had prior use of ADT and concurrent use of ADT in the ERLEADA (90.5%, 96.3%) and enzalutamide (89.8%, 94.5%) cohorts, respectively. Median baseline PSA was 19.2 ng/mL and 18.8 ng/mL in the ERLEADA and enzalutamide cohorts, respectively. The descriptive analyses are summarized in Table: Clinical Outcome Results.


Clinical Outcome Results10
Clinical Outcome, %
ERLEADA Group
Enzalutamide Group
PSA90 responsea,b,c
n=478
n=454
   3 months
48.0
35.1
   6 months
67.4
52.6
   9 months
71.0
60.2
   12 months
72.3
61.6
Undetectable PSA (0.2) responsea,b,d
n=382
n=349
   3 months
43.3
32.4
   6 months
67.1
56.6
   9 months
77.4
63.2
   12 months
80.6
63.2
Progression to CRa,e
n=589
n=597
   3 months
2.2
4.8
   6 months
6.5
10.3
   9 months
15.3
17.0
   12 months
20.9
22.4
   18 months
29.3
32.4
   24 months
33.5
38.6
CRFSa,e
n=589
n=597
   3 months
97.3
94.4
   6 months
91.5
87.5
   9 months
81.9
79.8
   12 months
76.2
74.1
   18 months
66.4
62.8
   24 months
62.0
55.1
Abbreviations: CR, castration resistance; CRFS, castration resistance-free survival; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; PSA90, ≥90% PSA reduction from baseline.
aReported as rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
bThe median follow-up for PSA outcomes was 203 days in the ERLEADA group and 178 days in the enzalutamide group.
cAmong patients with baseline PSA within 13 weeks prior to and including index date, the median time to PSA90 response was 3.2 months in the ERLEADA group and 5.2 months in the enzalutamide group, respectively.
dAmong patients with most recent baseline PSA value >0.2 ng/mL within 13 weeks prior to and including index date, the median time to PSA 0.2 response was 3.5 months in the ERLEADA group and 4.4 months in the enzalutamide group.
eThe median overall follow-up to assess progression to CR and CRFS was 341 days in the ERLEADA group and 330 days in the enzalutamide group.

Lowentritt et al (2023)11 conducted retrospective real-world analyses to describe clinical outcomes in patients with mCSPC that were initiated on ERLEADA (n=155) or enzalutamide (n=385) using electronic medical record (EMR) data from the Flatiron Metastatic Prostate Cancer Core Registry. The study also included data for patients who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate; however, the results for this cohort are not summarized below.

KM analyses were used to assess the rates of progression to CR, OS, and CRFS separately for each cohort. All analyses were descriptive and were not adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Patients were required to have ≥12 months of clinical activity prior to the index date. Concurrent use of ADT was not required for inclusion in either cohort. Among the exclusion criteria were prior use of an ARSI before the index date or the use of ≥2 ARSIs on the index date, and prior use of any advanced therapy for prostate cancer (ie, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiopharmaceuticals, estrogens, or poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase [PARP] inhibitors).

Most patients had prior use of ADT before initiation of ERLEADA (83.2%) and enzalutamide (83.9%). The mean observation period was 12.7 months and 13.2 months in the ERLEADA and enzalutamide cohorts, respectively. The descriptive analyses are summarized in Table: Clinical Outcomes.


Clinical Outcomes11
Clinical Outcome, %
ERLEADA Group
(n=155)

Enzalutamide Group
(n=385)

Progression to CRa
   3 months
2.1
6.2
   6 months
8.0
11.5
   9 months
10.0
17.3
   12 months
12.4
23.5
   18 months
23.5
28.8
   24 months
26.2
36.3
OSa
   3 months
98.6
98.6
   6 months
96.9
96.4
   9 months
93.8
92.5
   12 months
91.6
89.2
   18 months
88.1
79.1
   24 months
88.1
71.0
CRFSa
   3 months
96.5
92.7
   6 months
89.9
86.3
   9 months
86.0
78.6
   12 months
82.6
71.5
   18 months
70.1
62.6
   24 months
67.6
53.9
Abbreviations: CR, castration resistance; CRFS, castration resistance-free survival; OS, overall survival.
aReported as rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Lowentritt et al (2023)12 conducted a real-world analysis to retrospectively compare the proportion of patients with a PSA90 by 6 months postindex and time to PSA90 response from the date of index treatment initiation in patients with mCSPC that were initiated on ERLEADA or enzalutamide.

IPTW based on propensity score was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics and balancing of baseline characteristics after weighting was confirmed between both cohorts. The observation period spanned from the index date to either index treatment discontinuation, initiation of a different next-generation ARSI or the use of radiopharmaceuticals, end of clinical activity (eg, death), or end of data availability, whichever occurred first.

Patients were required to have ≥12 months of clinical activity prior to the index date and ≥1 PSA test during the 13 weeks prior to and including index date. Among the exclusion criteria were prior use of a next-generation ARSI before the index date or the use of ≥2 next-generation ARSIs on the index date and evidence of CR prior to or on the index date. Concomitant use of ADT was not required for inclusion.

Before applying IPTW, a total of 186 patients treated with ERLEADA and 165 patients treated with enzalutamide were identified and after applying IPTW, the reweighted cohort sizes were 174 patients and 177 patients, respectively. The mean baseline PSA level was 18.4 ng/mL vs 18.3 ng/mL in the ERLEADA weighted cohort vs the enzalutamide weighted cohort, respectively.

In the IPTW population, 73.6% of patients treated with ERLEADA and 70.5% of patients treated with enzalutamide had ≥1 PSA test during the observation period, with nearly all (100% vs 98.7%, respectively) having their first PSA test within 6 months following treatment initiation. The PSA90 response and median time to PSA90 response results were significant in the ERLEADA vs enzalutamide cohorts at 6 months and beyond (Table: PSA90 Response Results in ERLEADA vs Enzalutamide Groups). No safety data were reported.


PSA90 Response Results in ERLEADA vs Enzalutamide Groups12
Efficacy Endpoint
ERLEADA Group
(n=174)a

Enzalutamide Group
(n=177)b

Weighted HR (95% CI)
P-Valuec
PSA90 response, %
   3 months
49.3
32.7
-
-
   6 months
69.3
55.6
1.56 (1.09-2.22)
0.014
   9 months
70.4
62.5
-
-
   12 months
70.4
62.5
1.49 (1.05-2.11)
0.024
Median time to PSA90 response, months
3.1
5.2
-
0.0233
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio; PSA90, ≥90% prostate-specific antigen reduction from baseline.
aMean observation period was 169 days.
bMean observation period was 141 days.
cResults significant at the 5% level.

Pilon et al (2021)13 conducted a real-world analysis to retrospectively describe PSA responses (PSA90 and undetectable PSA [PSA <0.2 ng/mL]) among patients with mCSPC who initiated treatment with ERLEADA or enzalutamide. The study also included data for patients who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate; however, the results for this cohort are not summarized below.

The observation period spanned from the index date to index treatment discontinuation, initiation of a different next-generation androgen signaling inhibitor (ASI) or the use of radiopharmaceuticals, end of clinical activity (eg, death), or end of data availability, whichever occurred first. KM analysis was used to assess the proportion of patients who achieved each PSA response outcome at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postindex, as well as the median time to PSA response.

Patients were required to have ≥12 months of clinical activity prior to the index date and ≥1 medication dispensation of ERLEADA, enzalutamide, or abiraterone acetate. Select exclusion criteria were prior use of a next-generation ASI before the index date or the use of >1 ASI on the index date and evidence of CR prior to or on the index date. PSA responses were assessed for patients who had ≥1 PSA measurement during the 13 weeks before the index date.

Overall, 45.0% and 70.0% of patients treated with ERLEADA, respectively, and 33.0% and 58.3% of patients treated with enzalutamide, respectively, had a PSA test on average every 3 and 6 months. Patients achieving PSA90 and undetectable PSA responses were observed by 3 months, with the proportion increasing at 6 months postindex (Table: PSA Response Results in the ERLEADA and Enzalutamide Groups). No safety data were reported.


PSA Response Results in the ERLEADA and Enzalutamide Groups13
PSA Outcomes
ERLEADA Group
Enzalutamide Group
PSA90 response
   Total number of evaluable patients, n
212
165
   Median time to PSA90 response, months
2.70
5.73
   Number of patients achieving PSA90, n (%)
104 (49.1)
57 (34.5)
   KM rates of patients achieving PSA90 response at specific time points, % (95% CI)
      3 months
52.9 (45.1-61.2)
30.3 (22.7-39.6)
      6 months
70.2 (61.9-78.2)
53.8 (43.3-65.1)
      9 months
71.4 (63.1-79.3)
60.7 (49.1-72.5)
      12 months
71.4 (63.1-79.3)
60.7 (49.1-72.5)
Undetectable PSA (PSA <0.2 ng/mL) response
   Total number of evaluable patients, n
178
127
   Median time to undetectable PSA response, months
3.53
5.67
   Number of patients achieving undetectable PSA level, n (%)
90 (50.6)
44 (34.6)
   KM rates of patients achieving undetectable PSA level at specific time points, % (95% CI)
      3 months
43.4 (35.3-52.5)
33.3 (24.3-44.5)
      6 months
62.4 (53.4-71.4)
56.5 (43.9-69.9)
      9 months
78.3 (68.8-86.5)
62.3 (49.0-75.7)
      12 months
82.1 (72.5-89.9)
62.3 (49.0-75.7)
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; KM, Kaplan-Meier; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; PSA90, ≥90% PSA reduction from baseline.

Retrospective Real-World Studies in Patients with nmCRPC

Appukkuttan et al (2024)15 evaluated the incidence of non-central nervous system (CNS)-related AEs and CNS-related AEs and healthcare resource utilization among US-based patients with nmCRPC treated with ERLEADA (n=156) or enzalutamide (n=449) in a retrospective, real-world, observational cohort study using Optum Clinformatics Data Mart claims data. The median time from treatment initiation to non-CNS-related AE and CNS-related AE was 116 days and 337 days in the ERLEADA group and 117 days and 250 days for the enzalutamide group, respectively. The mean per patient per year AE count estimates for the ERLEADA group vs enzalutamide group were 19.7 vs 19.8 for non-CNS-related AEs and 4.9 vs 5.7 for CNS-related AEs, respectively.

Hussain et al (2022)16 conducted a real-world analysis to retrospectively describe the incidence and management of AEs in patients with nmCRPC who received treatment with ERLEADA or enzalutamide. Patients were followed for a median of 1.1 years (ERLEADA, 1.2 years; enzalutamide, 1.0 years). Of these, 525 (75.1%) patients experienced ≥1 AE (ERLEADA, 72.0%; enzalutamide, 78.7%). The most commonly reported AEs and AEs of special interest are described in Table: Summary of AEs.


Summary of AEs16
Overall
(N=699)

ERLEADA Groupa
(n=368)

Enzalutamide Groupa
(n=333)

Common AEs (occurring in ≥10% of patients in any group), %
   Hot flush
13.9
14.1
13.5
   Arthralgia
13.6
14.4
12.9
   Decreased appetite
9.4
6.5
12.9
AEs of special interestb (occurring in ≥5% of patients in any group), %
   Fatigue/asthenia
34.3
30.2
38.7
   Hypertension
7.2
7.3
6.9
   Mental impairment disorderc
6.4
5.4
7.5
   Rash
4.7
6.3
3.0
Abbreviation: AE, adverse event.
aTwo patients received both ERLEADA and enzalutamide. The specific AEs have been attributed to the respective therapy cohort, and therefore the ns add to >699.
bNo patients experienced neutropenia, cerebral ischemia, heart failure, or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.
cIncluded cognitive and attention disorders, memory impairment, mental and cognitive changes, and mental impairment disorder.

Of the 525 patients with ≥1 AE, 250 were randomly selected for detailed data collection (ERLEADA, n=125; enzalutamide, n=125) and were followed for a median of 13 months from treatment initiation. In the ERLEADA and enzalutamide groups, respectively, the mean PSA level at nmCRPC diagnosis was 20.99 ng/mL and 25.35 ng/mL and the median therapy duration was 13.6 months and 12.8 months. A total of 444 AEs were reported in this subset. The most common AEs of any nature were fatigue/asthenia (50.8%), flush (20.8%), and arthralgia (18.8%). Grade 3-4 and grade 5 AEs occurred in 36 (14.4%) patients and 1 (0.4%) patient, respectively.

A total of 95 (38.0%) patients received treatment for an AE in the overall subset (ERLEADA, 36.8%; enzalutamide, 39.2%). More than half (51.6%) of the AEs resolved without a sequelae, while 41.4% did not resolve. In the overall subset, treatment discontinuation due to AE was reported in 10.4% of patients (ERLEADA, 8.0%; enzalutamide, 12.8%), and dose reduction due to AEs was reported in 7.6% of patients (ERLEADA, 7.2%; enzalutamide, 8.0%). A total of 12 (4.8%) patients were hospitalized due to AE (ERLEADA, 5.6%; enzalutamide, 4.0%), and the mean length of hospital stay was 4.58 days. AEs that led to hospitalizations included seizure, fracture, falls, hypertension, and other cardiovascular events. Treatment discontinuation due to any reason was reported in 26.8% of patients in the overall subset (ERLEADA, 28.0%; enzalutamide, 25.6%), and the most common reason was disease progression (53.7%). Physician-reported non-progression-related reasons for treatment discontinuation were unacceptable side effects/toxicity (overall subset, 38.8%; ERLEADA, 28.6%; enzalutamide, 50.0%), patient choice/preference/refusal (overall subset, 23.9%; ERLEADA, 20.0%; enzalutamide, 28.1%), death (overall subset, 4.5%; ERLEADA, 5.7%; enzalutamide, 3.1%), and other (overall subset, 1.5%; ERLEADA, 2.9%; enzalutamide, 0%).

Appukkuttan et al (2024)17 evaluated the prevalence of pDDIs in patients with nmCRPC (N=1515) treated with ERLEADA (n=340), enzalutamide (n=1063), or darolutamide (n=112) in a retrospective, real-world, observational cohort study using Optum Clinformatics Data Mart claims data from August 01, 2019, to March 31, 2021.

In total, 66% of patients received ≥5 concomitant medications at baseline. The most common therapeutic drug classes prescribed were cardiovascular (80%), CNS (52%), and anti-infective (50%). Of the 100 most prevalent comedications, pDDls reported were 30 for ERLEADA, 30 for enzalutamide, and 2 for darolutamide. At least 1 pDDI was identified in 58% (197/340) of patients receiving ERLEADA, 54% (577/1063) receiving enzalutamide, and 5% (6/112) receiving darolutamide. Four pDDls for ERLEADA were of grade X in severity (avoid combination; Table: Severity Levels of pDDls).


Severity Levels of pDDls17
Severity Grade,a n
ERLEADA
Enzalutamide
Darolutamide
C
18
20
0
D
6
8
1
X
4
0
0
Abbreviation: pDDl, potential drug-drug interaction.
apDDls severity levels were assessed using Lexicomp, which categorized severity as grade A (no known interaction), B (no action needed), C (monitor therapy), D (consider therapy modification), or X (avoid combination).

Appukkuttan et al (2021)18 conducted a real-world analysis to retrospectively compare the utilization of ERLEADA and enzalutamide among patients with nmCRPC from a urology EMR database. A total of 2636 patients were identified, 1023 (39%) patients treated with ERLEADA and 1613 (61%) patients treated with enzalutamide. In the ERLEADA and enzalutamide groups, the median baseline PSA level was 3.7 ng/dL and 4.1 ng/dL, median duration of follow-up was 18.7 months and 12.1 months, and median therapy duration was 12.9 months and 9.8 months, respectively.

Overall, 41.5% of patients discontinued use of initial medication, with another 9.4% switching therapy. In a patient subset randomly selected for chart review (ERLEADA group, n=455, enzalutamide group, n=522), AEs were the most common reason reported for drug discontinuation (ERLEADA group, 43.4%; enzalutamide group, 58.2%) and among the 5.6% of patients that had a dose reduction, 72.4% of patients in ERLEADA group and 73.1% of patients in the enzalutamide group reported AEs as the most common reason.

LITERATURE SEARCH

A literature search of MEDLINE®, Embase®, BIOSIS Previews®, and Derwent Drug File (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on
10 April 2025. Summarized in this response are relevant data limited to patients with mCSPC or nmCRPC. Due to methodological differences and other potential limitations including scope, timing, study designs and statistical approaches, network meta-analyses, and meta-analyses have been excluded in this response. Additional data beyond these parameters may be available in the literature.

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