What’s New in Prostate Cancer Treatment? 2026 Research and FDA Approvals

Good News in Prostate Cancer: Updates You Should Know

At ZERO Prostate Cancer, we believe every discovery is a step toward a better future. This year has brought some really hopeful news, and we want to share it with you. These updates are more than numbers on a page. They mean more time with the people you love and a better daily life for the men we care about.

Here are some of the recent exciting updates.

A New Way to Target the Disease

In June 2026, the FDA approved a new medicine called capivasertib (Truqap®). It is taken along with two other drugs, abiraterone and prednisone. This is a "targeted therapy," which means it attacks a specific problem inside the cancer cells.

It is for men whose prostate cancer has spread but is newly diagnosed in this more advanced setting, even if treated before with radiation or surgery. To use it, patients must have a change in a gene called PTEN that makes the cancer sensitive to the medicine. About 1 in 4 men with this type of prostate cancer have this change. For the first time, doctors have a treatment made just for these patients. This helps care teams match the right treatment to the right person.

Feeling Like Yourself: Protecting Your Mind

Fighting cancer is about more than the body. It is also about feeling like yourself each day. A new study called the ARACOG trial compared two common drugs: darolutamide (Nubeqa®) and enzalutamide (Xtandi®). Both drugs work well against cancer, but doctors wanted to know if one is easier on the brain.

The study found that men taking darolutamide had less trouble with memory and thinking than men taking enzalutamide. This research was led by Dr. Alicia Morgans of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who also serves on ZERO's Medical Advisory Board. Her work helps care teams choose treatments that fight the cancer while also protecting your peace of mind. Many people do very well when treated with enzalutamide, but if this is a focus or concern for patients, asking about ways to be more gentle on cognitive function is an important part of making treatment decisions.

Starting Stronger and Earlier

Three big studies show that using strong treatments earlier may lead to better long-term results.

• NEW! - July 31 FDA Approval: The FDA approved Pluvicto® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for men whose prostate cancer has spread but still responds to hormone therapy. Pluvicto was first approved in 2022, and then expanded in 2025, for men with advanced prostate cancer that had stopped responding to hormone therapy. It is given along with a hormone-blocking drug (called an ARPI) and works by finding a marker called PSMA on cancer cells and delivering targeted radiation right to them. In the PSMAddition study, this combination improved outcomes compared to hormone therapy alone.
• The TALAPRO-3 Trial: This study looked at men with metastatic prostate cancer that still responds to hormone therapy and who also carry certain gene changes (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations). Adding the drug talazoparib (Talzenna®) to enzalutamide cut the risk of the cancer growing worse or of death compared to enzalutamide alone. This is the first study to test this combo early in the disease, before the cancer stops responding to hormone therapy. Longer-term survival data are still being collected.
• The PROTEUS Trial: This study focused on men with high-risk prostate cancer that had not yet spread and who were planning to have surgery to remove the prostate. Doctors added apalutamide (Erleada®) to hormone therapy (called ADT) before and after surgery. Men who took apalutamide were 9 times more likely to have little or no cancer left at the time of surgery. The combination also lowered the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body or of death by about 20%. It is important to talk with your doctor about this approach if you are interested in surgery because using hormonal medications has not been standard in this setting. 

We're In This Together

These updates remind us that scientists and doctors are working hard to find smarter, kinder ways to care for you. We are moving toward a future where treatment is shaped around you — your body, your genes, and your life. That means a better chance not just to survive, but to thrive.

Learn More With Our Experts

We recently sat down with Dr. Yaw Nyame of the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center to talk about some of these breakthroughs in more detail. Watch the recording of our webinar to hear what these updates could mean for your journey.

Watch the Recorded Webinar Here.