AstraZeneca and MSD’s Lynparza shows potential for prostate cancer patients
pharmafile | September 24, 2021 | News story | Medical Communications |
The PROpel Phase III trial has shown that Lynparza (olaparib) in combination with abiraterone demonstrated a significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) compared to standard care alone. This is a first-line treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with or without homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations.
The trial met the primary endpoint of rPFS in men with mCRPC who had not received treatment in the first line setting, including with new hormonal agents (NHAs) or chemotherapy, as concluded by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC).
Developed by AstraZeneca and MSD, Lynparza is a PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to block DNA damage response (DDR) in cells/tumours with a deficiency in homologous recombination repair (HRR). It has been used to treat over 40,000 patients worldwide, and it is currently approved in the US, the EU, Japan, China, and several other countries as first-line maintenance treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer.
Metastatic prostate cancer is associated with a significant mortality rate. In patients with mCRPC, their prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, despite the use of androgen-deprivation therapy to block the action of male sex hormones.
As prostate cancer is the second most-common cancer in men, it is vital that new, safe and efficient treatment options continue to be developed for men with mCRPC.
Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, commented: “These exciting results demonstrate the potential for Lynparza with abiraterone to become a new first-line option for patients regardless of their biomarker status and reach a broad population of patients living with this aggressive disease. We look forward to discussing the results with global health authorities as soon as possible.”
The partnership between AstraZeneca and MSD began in July 2017, when the two companies announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise Lynparza for multiple cancer types. The companies will continue to develop Lynparza in combination with other potential new medicines and as monotherapies.
Lina Adams
