J&J’s oral RIPTAC shows early activity in advanced prostate cancer

At ESMO 2026, Johnson & Johnson reported early Phase 1 results for JNJ-6143 (formerly HLD-0915), an investigational once-daily oral drug for heavily pretreated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Among 16 patients with measurable tumors, 12 had a confirmed complete or partial response (75%). In the 50 mg daily-dose group, 77% of 38 patients had a confirmed PSA decline of at least 50%, and 48% had a decline of at least 90%.

JNJ-6143 uses J&J’s RIPTAC approach:
it is designed to bind the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells and sequester BRD4, a protein important for cell survival. The aim is to disrupt cancer-cell function and trigger cell death.

J&J selected 50 mg once daily for further development. Reported common treatment-related effects included elevated cholesterol, nausea, and elevated triglycerides; one patient discontinued treatment because of an adverse event.

The findings are promising but preliminary:
this is an early-stage study, the measurable-tumor response group was small, and the data do not yet show whether the drug improves survival or other long-term outcomes. Further studies are needed.