What's Happening?
Corcept Therapeutics, based in Redwood City, California, is set to present new data at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Berlin. The company will showcase findings from its Phase 3 ROSELLA trial, which focuses on patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have previously been treated with a PARP inhibitor. This trial is significant as it addresses the unmet needs in the treatment of ovarian cancer, a disease that is the fifth most common cause of cancer death among women. Corcept's relacorilant, an oral therapy, is a selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist that modulates cortisol activity, potentially improving outcomes for patients with this challenging condition.
Why It's Important?
The development of effective treatments for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is crucial, as current options are limited and the median overall survival following recurrence is approximately 12 months. Corcept's relacorilant has shown promise in improving progression-free and overall survival rates in clinical trials. This advancement could significantly impact the lives of approximately 20,000 women in the U.S. who are candidates for new therapies each year. The potential approval and use of relacorilant could offer hope to patients who have been underserved by existing treatments, potentially improving both their lifespan and quality of life.
What's Next?
Corcept will present their findings in a mini oral session at the ESMO Congress on October 19, 2025. The company is also awaiting a decision from the FDA, which has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of July 11, 2026, for relacorilant as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. If approved, this could pave the way for broader use of relacorilant in earlier lines of therapy and in other gynaecological malignancies, potentially increasing the cure rate and reducing recurrence and resistance.
Beyond the Headlines
The introduction of relacorilant could represent a shift in the treatment paradigm for ovarian cancer, emphasizing the importance of cortisol modulation in oncology. This approach may also open avenues for combining relacorilant with other therapies, such as antibody-drug conjugates, to enhance treatment efficacy across various cancer types. The broader implications of this development could lead to more personalized and effective cancer treatments, addressing gaps in care for populations that have been left behind by recent innovations.
