Tokai, a Cambridge, MA based Pharmaceutical company, just presented a promising set of Phase I data pointing to the early efficacy of its “triple whammy” pill for castration-resistant prostate cancer, TOK-001 or galeterone. In their phase 1 trial the PSA levels in about half of the 49 men in the dose-ranging study declined 30% or more in the trial, with 11 men registering a plunge of 50% or more in their PSA level. PSA levels, although not necessarily a marker for survival, are a commonly used biomarker for men with advanced prostate cancer.

TOK-001 is aimed at shutting down the three mechanisms involved in the development of castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The three mechanisms that TOK-001 goes after are: preventing the body from synthesizing new androgen by inhibiting the CYP17 enzyme, blocking the androgen receptor and then degrading the receptor.

You can read more about TOK-001 at:

Joel T Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.