What type of drug is Zejula?
Zejula (niraparib) is an oral, once-daily poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARP inhibitor).
PARP, or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, is a protein that helps repair damaged DNA. PARP inhibitors are targeted therapies that are used in the treatment of certain cancers.
PARP inhibitors work by stopping the repair of the damaged DNA in cancer cells, resulting in the death of the cancer cells.
Zejula was the third PARP Inhibitor to be approved by the FDA.
| PARP Inhibitor | Indications |
|---|---|
| Lynparza (olaparib) |
|
| Rubraca (rucaparib) |
|
| Zejula (niraparib) |
|
| Talzenna (talazoparib) |
|
Zejula is indicated:
- for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.
- for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for Zejula.
Read next
Why give Taxol (Paxel) before carboplatin?
Taxol (paclitaxel, Paxel) must be given before carboplatin because if carboplatin is given before Taxol, it stops Taxol from having an effect on cancer cells. This is called a scheduling interaction because when Taxol is given before carboplatin, there is little interaction and both agents work as intended. Continue reading
What is Paxel called in the USA?
Paxel contains the medicine paclitaxel, which was sold under the brand names Onxol and Taxol in the USA Continue reading
How long does it take Lynparza (olaparib) to work?
It takes Lynparza between two months and five months to start working depending on what cancer it is being used to treat. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Zejula Information for Consumers
- Zejula prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Zejula (detailed)
Related support groups
- Zejula (2 questions, 23 members)
- Ovarian Cancer (13 questions, 54 members)
- Fallopian Tube Cancer (3 questions, 4 members)
- Peritoneal Cancer (3 questions, 7 members)
