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4 Prostate Cancer Drug Stocks to Watch During Awareness Month
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Key Takeaways
Pfizer awaits an FDA decision on expanding Talzenna/Xtandi into an earlier prostate-cancer setting.
Novartis' Pluvicto gained a broader prostate-cancer use, while new studies could expand its reach further.
Candel is preparing an FDA filing, while Janux advances multiple early-stage prostate-cancer programs.
September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, putting renewed attention on one of the most common cancer manifestations affecting men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 333,830 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026, while 36,320 are expected to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. men, underscoring the importance of awareness, risk assessment and timely detection.
The focus is particularly relevant as the disease burden evolves. The American Cancer Society says prostate-cancer incidence increased by roughly 3% annually from 2014 through 2022, with advanced-stage diagnoses showing the steepest rise. At the same time, earlier diagnosis can improve outcomes, highlighting the continuing need for better screening, treatment options and approaches that can delay disease progression.
Against this backdrop, Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) , Novartis (NVS - Free Report) , Candel Therapeutics (CADL - Free Report) and Janux Therapeutics (JANX - Free Report) are four stocks worth watching. PFE and NVS offer relatively safer exposure as large-cap pharmaceutical companies with established commercial franchises. On the other hand, JANX and CADL are more speculative bets because their prostate-cancer opportunities remain in clinical development. All four have meaningful prostate-cancer exposure and identifiable clinical or regulatory catalysts, making them interesting names as investors assess the industry's efforts to advance prostate-cancer treatment. Pfizer, Novartis and Janux carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each, while Candel has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
Pfizer's prostate-cancer portfolio is anchored by Xtandi (enzalutamide), which it co-commercializes with partner Astellas Pharma. Xtandi is approved for castration-resistant prostate cancer, metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer and non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with high-risk biochemical recurrence. Pfizer reported $978 million in first-half 2026 Xtandi alliance revenues. The company also markets Talzenna (talazoparib), which is approved in combination with Xtandi for adults with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; Talzenna generated $107 million in first-half 2026 sales, up 24% year over year. Talzenna monotherapy is also approved for a breast cancer indication.
A key near-term pipeline catalyst is the potential expansion of the Talzenna/Xtandi combo into HRR gene-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Pfizer's supplemental application is being reviewed under the FDA’s Priority Review pathway, with the agency expected to communicate a decision in the fourth quarter of 2026. The filing was supported by positive phase III TALAPRO-3 results, which met the study’s primary endpoint. The therapy improved radiographic progression-free survival by more than 50% and reduced the risk of radiographic disease progression or death by 52% versus Xtandi plus placebo.
Pfizer also has investigational EZH2 inhibitor mevrometostat in its prostate-cancer pipeline. The candidate is being evaluated in combination with Xtandi in multiple phase III studies across metastatic castration-resistant and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, including patients who are treatment-naïve to newer hormonal therapies and those whose disease has progressed following abiraterone.
Novartis
Novartis' flagship prostate-cancer drug Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) was initially approved for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in appropriate patients who had received prior androgen-receptor pathway inhibitor therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy. In July 2026, the FDA expanded its use to PSMA-positive metastatic androgen pathway modulation-naive or -sensitive prostate cancer in combination with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor, significantly broadening the addressable population. Pluvicto generated $1.3 billion in first-half 2026 sales, up 57% year over year.
Novartis is looking to further expand Pluvicto’s prostate-cancer label, with the drug in phase III development for oligometastatic prostate cancer, potentially extending its use to an earlier stage of the disease. Beyond Pluvicto, NVS is advancing next-generation radioligand candidate AAA817 (225Ac-PSMA-617) in a phase II/III study as a monotherapy for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, including patients whose disease has progressed after prior lutetium-based PSMA-targeted therapy. A separate phase III study is evaluating AAA817 in combination with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Candel Therapeutics
Candel’s lead candidate, aglatimagene besadenovec (aglatimagene), has completed pivotal late-stage development for intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer, with the goal of enhancing the effects of standard-of-care radiotherapy. The pivotal phase III study met its primary endpoint, delivering a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival compared with radiotherapy alone. At a median follow-up of 58 months, the aglatimagene arm showed a 39% improvement in prostate cancer-specific disease-free survival, underscoring the durability of the treatment benefit.
The encouraging clinical data have moved aglatimagene toward a key regulatory catalyst, with Candel planning to submit a regulatory filing to the FDA for localized prostate cancer in the fourth quarter of 2026. The candidate has received both FDA Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations for the above indication, which could support its regulatory review. Candel is also strengthening its commercial and regulatory infrastructure ahead of the planned filing.
Janux Therapeutics
Janux also does not yet have an approved prostate-cancer drug. Its lead candidate, JANX007, is a PSMA×CD3 tumor-activated T-cell engager being evaluated in a phase Ib study in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, with enrollment continuing in both monotherapy and Nubeqa (darolutamide) combination cohorts. The company is evaluating the candidate's safety, dosing and preliminary antitumor activity as the program advances.
Beyond JANX007, Janux is advancing JANX014, another PSMA×CD3 tumor-activated T-cell engager, in a phase I study for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The company has also initiated a phase I study of JANX013, a PSMA×CD28 TRACIr, in combination with JANX007, with the first patient now dosed for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Janux ended the second quarter of 2026 with $970.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, providing substantial financial capacity to advance its early-stage prostate-cancer pipeline.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
4 Prostate Cancer Drug Stocks to Watch During Awareness Month
Key Takeaways
September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, putting renewed attention on one of the most common cancer manifestations affecting men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 333,830 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026, while 36,320 are expected to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. men, underscoring the importance of awareness, risk assessment and timely detection.
The focus is particularly relevant as the disease burden evolves. The American Cancer Society says prostate-cancer incidence increased by roughly 3% annually from 2014 through 2022, with advanced-stage diagnoses showing the steepest rise. At the same time, earlier diagnosis can improve outcomes, highlighting the continuing need for better screening, treatment options and approaches that can delay disease progression.
Against this backdrop, Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) , Novartis (NVS - Free Report) , Candel Therapeutics (CADL - Free Report) and Janux Therapeutics (JANX - Free Report) are four stocks worth watching. PFE and NVS offer relatively safer exposure as large-cap pharmaceutical companies with established commercial franchises. On the other hand, JANX and CADL are more speculative bets because their prostate-cancer opportunities remain in clinical development. All four have meaningful prostate-cancer exposure and identifiable clinical or regulatory catalysts, making them interesting names as investors assess the industry's efforts to advance prostate-cancer treatment. Pfizer, Novartis and Janux carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each, while Candel has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Pfizer
Pfizer's prostate-cancer portfolio is anchored by Xtandi (enzalutamide), which it co-commercializes with partner Astellas Pharma. Xtandi is approved for castration-resistant prostate cancer, metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer and non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with high-risk biochemical recurrence. Pfizer reported $978 million in first-half 2026 Xtandi alliance revenues. The company also markets Talzenna (talazoparib), which is approved in combination with Xtandi for adults with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; Talzenna generated $107 million in first-half 2026 sales, up 24% year over year. Talzenna monotherapy is also approved for a breast cancer indication.
Pfizer Inc. Price and Consensus
Pfizer Inc. price-consensus-chart | Pfizer Inc. Quote
A key near-term pipeline catalyst is the potential expansion of the Talzenna/Xtandi combo into HRR gene-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Pfizer's supplemental application is being reviewed under the FDA’s Priority Review pathway, with the agency expected to communicate a decision in the fourth quarter of 2026. The filing was supported by positive phase III TALAPRO-3 results, which met the study’s primary endpoint. The therapy improved radiographic progression-free survival by more than 50% and reduced the risk of radiographic disease progression or death by 52% versus Xtandi plus placebo.
Pfizer also has investigational EZH2 inhibitor mevrometostat in its prostate-cancer pipeline. The candidate is being evaluated in combination with Xtandi in multiple phase III studies across metastatic castration-resistant and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, including patients who are treatment-naïve to newer hormonal therapies and those whose disease has progressed following abiraterone.
Novartis
Novartis' flagship prostate-cancer drug Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) was initially approved for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in appropriate patients who had received prior androgen-receptor pathway inhibitor therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy. In July 2026, the FDA expanded its use to PSMA-positive metastatic androgen pathway modulation-naive or -sensitive prostate cancer in combination with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor, significantly broadening the addressable population. Pluvicto generated $1.3 billion in first-half 2026 sales, up 57% year over year.
Novartis AG Price and Consensus
Novartis AG price-consensus-chart | Novartis AG Quote
Novartis is looking to further expand Pluvicto’s prostate-cancer label, with the drug in phase III development for oligometastatic prostate cancer, potentially extending its use to an earlier stage of the disease. Beyond Pluvicto, NVS is advancing next-generation radioligand candidate AAA817 (225Ac-PSMA-617) in a phase II/III study as a monotherapy for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, including patients whose disease has progressed after prior lutetium-based PSMA-targeted therapy. A separate phase III study is evaluating AAA817 in combination with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Candel Therapeutics
Candel’s lead candidate, aglatimagene besadenovec (aglatimagene), has completed pivotal late-stage development for intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer, with the goal of enhancing the effects of standard-of-care radiotherapy. The pivotal phase III study met its primary endpoint, delivering a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival compared with radiotherapy alone. At a median follow-up of 58 months, the aglatimagene arm showed a 39% improvement in prostate cancer-specific disease-free survival, underscoring the durability of the treatment benefit.
Candel Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus
Candel Therapeutics, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Candel Therapeutics, Inc. Quote
The encouraging clinical data have moved aglatimagene toward a key regulatory catalyst, with Candel planning to submit a regulatory filing to the FDA for localized prostate cancer in the fourth quarter of 2026. The candidate has received both FDA Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations for the above indication, which could support its regulatory review. Candel is also strengthening its commercial and regulatory infrastructure ahead of the planned filing.
Janux Therapeutics
Janux also does not yet have an approved prostate-cancer drug. Its lead candidate, JANX007, is a PSMA×CD3 tumor-activated T-cell engager being evaluated in a phase Ib study in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, with enrollment continuing in both monotherapy and Nubeqa (darolutamide) combination cohorts. The company is evaluating the candidate's safety, dosing and preliminary antitumor activity as the program advances.
Janux Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus
Janux Therapeutics, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Janux Therapeutics, Inc. Quote
Beyond JANX007, Janux is advancing JANX014, another PSMA×CD3 tumor-activated T-cell engager, in a phase I study for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The company has also initiated a phase I study of JANX013, a PSMA×CD28 TRACIr, in combination with JANX007, with the first patient now dosed for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Janux ended the second quarter of 2026 with $970.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, providing substantial financial capacity to advance its early-stage prostate-cancer pipeline.