Astrazeneca ovarian cancer drug Lynparza shown to improve survival chances

Pharma giant AstraZeneca has reported that its ovarian cancer drug Lynparza (olaparib) as a maintenance therapy has considerably improved the survival chances of patients with germline BRCA-mutations (gBRCA) who had a relapse of the disease, who did not respond to platinum-based chemo.

Phase 3 Trial of Astrazeneca Ovarian Cancer Drug Lynparza

The observation of the drug’s performance was noted by AstraZeneca in a phase 3 ovarian cancer drug trial named SOLO-2 which compared Lynparza with placebo.

Eric Pujade-Lauraine, Head of the Women Cancers and Clinical Research Department at Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre, site Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP and Principal Investigator of SOLO-2 on the AstraZeneca ovarian cancer drug trial result said: “The results are very encouraging, as they build upon previous trials examining Lynparza in platinum-sensitive relapsed BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer.

“Most importantly, patients were able to maintain quality of life while experiencing an impressive delay in disease progression, demonstrating the benefits of Lynparza tablets for these women whose cancer is often difficult to treat.”

Ovarian Cancer Treatment with Lynparza Ovarian Cancer Tablets

AstraZeneca ovarian cancer drug, Lynparza tablets were given orally in strength of 300mg to patients, twice a day during the phase 3 ovarian cancer drug trial. The ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor was compared as a maintenance monotherapy with placebo in the randomised, double-blind SOLO-2 ovarian cancer drug trial.

The Lynparza ovarian cancer tablets were shown to have reduced the risk of progression of the disease by 70%. It increased progression-free survival (PFS) of the ovarian cancer patients to 19.1 months, compared to 5.5 months shown by placebo.

Apart from that, AstraZeneca ovarian cancer drug recorded a PFS of 30.2 months against 5.5 months shown by placebo as per a blinded independent central review.

AstraZeneca Ovarian Cancer Drug Trial Results

Also in the phase 3 ovarian cancer drug trial, there was a statistically-significant time benefit to second progression or death (PFS2) was shown in patients treated with Lynparza ovarian cancer tablets. Apart from that, other key secondary endpoints showed improvements for Astra AstraZeneca ovarian cancer drug compared to the placebo arm.

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca on the ovarian cancer drug trial results said: “We are extremely pleased with the results from SOLO2, which support the potential benefit of Lynparza tablets as a maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed ovarian cancer.

“The tablet formulation may offer patients a reduced pill burden for Lynparza and a safety profile that is generally consistent with previous trials. We will work with regulatory authorities to make Lynparza tablets available to patients as quickly as possible.”

Mechanism of Lynparza Ovarian Cancer Tablets

Lynparza ovarian cancer tablets selectively kill cancer cells by exploiting the deficiencies in DNA damage response (DDR) pathway by the first-in-class oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor.

Lynparza ovarian cancer tablet was approved in the US and Europe for BRCAm ovarian cancer treatment in women.