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A prostate cancer drug combo is showing real staying power. Updated data from the phase 3 CAPItello-281 trial show that adding capivasertib to abiraterone extended median overall survival by nearly 11 months compared to placebo in patients with PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The FDA already approved this combination in June 2026, and these results further cement its role as a first-in-class targeted therapy for this high-risk population.
A prostate cancer drug combo is showing real staying power. Updated data from the phase 3 CAPItello-281 trial — presented at the 2026 ESMO Congress and simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology — show that adding capivasertib (Truqap) to abiraterone plus androgen deprivation therapy extended median overall survival (OS) by nearly 11 months compared to placebo in patients with PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).
The trial enrolled 1,012 patients with PTEN-deficient mHSPC, randomized 1:1 to capivasertib or placebo on top of abiraterone and androgen deprivation therapy. Capivasertib works by targeting all three isoforms of AKT, a key driver of tumor growth via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Importantly, both high- and low-volume disease patients appeared to benefit, and a post-hoc analysis suggested greater benefit with higher degrees of PTEN loss. The FDA approved this combination in June 2026 based on earlier progression-free survival data.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This is the first targeted therapy approved for PTEN-deficient mHSPC — a molecularly defined, poor-prognosis subgroup. The OS benefit, combined with skeletal event-free survival gains, signals meaningful real-world impact for patients who previously had limited options beyond standard hormone therapy.
