Skip to main content

FDA Approves Tablet Formulation of Lynparza (olaparib) for Maintenance Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

August 17, 2017 -- AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., (Merck: known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the PARP inhibitor, Lynparza (olaparib), as follows:

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, AstraZeneca said: “Physicians have almost three years of clinical experience with Lynparza on the market and we are now pleased to bring this important medicine, in a new tablet formulation, to a broader group of women. Today’s approvals validate more than 10 years of dedicated research behind Lynparza, the world’s first PARP inhibitor, which now provides oncologists with the greater flexibility for use in terms of treatment settings. It builds on our recently-announced collaboration with Merck, which aims to further increase the number of treatment options available to patients.”

Richard Penson, MD, Clinical Director of Medical Gynecologic Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and the primary investigator in the SOLO-2 trial, said: “Today’s approval demonstrates that olaparib is an effective option for maintenance therapy for certain ovarian cancer patients, regardless of BRCA status. We welcome this news in the ovarian cancer community as more options are important to help us ensure that patients can find a treatment that is right for them.”

Roger M. Perlmutter, President of Merck Research Laboratories, said: “We congratulate AstraZeneca on the approval of these new indications and the new dosage form and schedule for Lynparza, an important therapeutic advance for many patients with ovarian cancer. This is a significant first regulatory event in our collaboration with AstraZeneca. We look forward to working with AstraZeneca in our global collaboration to bring this medicine with its new indications to patients.”

Two randomized trials supported the new approvals and the conversion of accelerated approval to full approval, which was originally based on a single-arm trial:1,3,4

Table 1. Summary of key efficacy results from randomized trials:1

Analysis Reduction in the risk of
disease progression or death
(PFS)		 Reduction in the risk of
death (OS)

SOLO-2
[gBRCAm]

LYNPARZA

70% (HR 0.30 [95% CI, 0.22-
0.41], P<0.0001)

Data not yet mature
Placebo

Study 19
[PSR OC*]2

LYNPARZA

65% (HR 0.35 [95% CI, 0.25-
0.49], P<0.0001)

27% (HR 0.73 [95% CI,
0.55-0.95]

Placebo

*PSR = Platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in clinical trials were anemia, nausea, fatigue (including asthenia), vomiting, nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection/influenza, diarrhea, arthralgia/myalgia, dysgeusia, headache, dyspepsia, and decreased appetite, constipation. and stomatitis. Most common laboratory abnormalities (≥25%) were decrease in hemoglobin, increase in mean corpuscular volume, decrease in lymphocytes, decrease in leukocytes, decrease in absolute neutrophil count, increase in serum creatinine and decrease in platelets.1

The full data from the SOLO-2 trial can be found in the July 25, 2017 publication of The Lancet Oncology.5

Lynparza was first approved under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval program in December 2014, as a capsule formulation, making it the first poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor approved.3,6 Since then, more than 3,000 advanced ovarian cancer patients have been treated with Lynparza capsules.7 Lynparza capsules are not indicated for maintenance therapy.1

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

DOSING AND ADMINISTRATION

To avoid substitution errors and overdose, do not substitute Lynparza tablets with Lynparza capsules on a milligram-to-milligram basis due to differences in the dosing and bioavailability of each formulation. Recommended tablet dose is 300 mg, taken orally twice daily, with or without food. Continue treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. For adverse reactions, consider dose interruption or dose reduction.

About SOLO-2

SOLO-2 was a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial designed to determine the efficacy of Lynparza tablets as a maintenance monotherapy compared with placebo, in patients with platinum-sensitive, relapsed or recurrent gBRCA-mutated ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer.8 The trial, conducted in collaboration with the European Network for Gynaecological Oncological Trial Groups (ENGOT) and Groupe d’Investigateurs National pour l’Etude des Cancers de l’Ovaire et du sein (GINECO), randomized 295 patients with documented germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who had received at least two prior lines of platinum-based chemotherapy and were in complete or partial response.5,8 Eligible patients were randomized to receive either Lynparza tablets (300mg twice daily) or placebo twice daily.5

About Study 19

Study 19 was a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Lynparza capsules compared with placebo in relapsed, high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients, involving 82 sites across 16 countries. Patients received olaparib maintenance monotherapy, at a dose of 400mg per day or matching placebo. Treatment continued until disease progression provided that toxicities were manageable.2

About Lynparza (olaparib)

Lynparza was the first FDA-approved oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that may exploit tumor DNA damage response (DDR) pathway deficiencies to potentially kill cancer cells.6,9,10 Specifically, in vitro studies have shown that olaparib-induced cytotoxicity may involve inhibition of PARP enzymatic activity and increased formation of PARP-DNA complexes, resulting in DNA damage and cancer cell death.1

Lynparza is the foundation of AstraZeneca’s industry-leading portfolio of compounds targeting DDR mechanisms in cancer cells.6,9,10

Lynparza tablets are currently being investigated in combinations in a range of tumor types, including breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.11-14

Lynparza capsules (400mg twice daily) will still be available through a limited specialty pharmacy network, for patients currently being treated for deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Lynparza tablets and capsules are not the same.1

If you have been prescribed Lynparza tablets, do not take the capsules. If you have any questions about Lynparza, please talk with your physician or pharmacist.1

About the AstraZeneca and Merck Strategic Oncology Collaboration

On July 27, 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize AstraZeneca’s Lynparza, the world’s first and leading PARP inhibitor, and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. The collaboration is based on increasing evidence that PARP and MEK inhibitors can be combined with PDL-1/PD-1 inhibitors for a range of tumor types and is aimed at maximizing the potential of Lynparza to become the preferred backbone of combination therapies. Working together, the companies will jointly develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with other potential new medicines and as a monotherapy. Independently, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

About AstraZeneca in Ovarian Cancer

Approximately 20,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Among women in the United States, it is the ninth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death.15

The risk of developing ovarian cancer is increased in women with specific inherited genetic abnormalities, including BRCA mutations.16

AstraZeneca is committed to the continued development of our R&D portfolio for ovarian cancer, with a focus on improved care for all patients.

About AstraZeneca in Oncology

AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in Oncology and offers a quickly growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With at least six new medicines to be launched between 2014 and 2020 and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, we are committed to advance New Oncology as one of AstraZeneca’s five Growth Platforms focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers. In addition to our core capabilities, we actively pursue innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the delivery of our strategy as illustrated by our investment in Acerta Pharma in hematology.

By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response and Antibody Drug Conjugates – and by championing the development of personalized combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

References

  1. Lynparza (olaparib) Tablets Prescribing Information. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE.
  2. Ledermann J, Harter P, Gourley M, et al. Olaparib maintenance therapy in platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med 2012;366:1382-1392.
  3. Lynparza (olaparib) Capsules Prescribing Information. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE.
  4. AstraZeneca Press Release. Lynparza™ approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in patients with germline BRCA-mutations. Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  5. Pujade-Lauraine E., Ledermann J., Selle F., et al. SOLO2/ENGOT-Ov21: A phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of olaparib tablets as maintenance therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive, relapsed ovarian cancer and a BRCA1/2 mutation. Lancet Oncol 2017. Published online. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S1470-2045(17)30469-2.
  6. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves Lynparza to treat advanced ovarian cancer. Accessed August 2017.
  7. Data on File, US-11033, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
  8. National Institutes of Health. Olaparib treatment in BRCA mutated ovarian cancer patients after complete or partial response to platinum chemotherapy. Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  9. O’Connor M. Targeting the DNA damage response in cancer. Mol Cell. 2015; Accessed August 2017.
  10. Tutt AN, Lord CJ, McCabe N. Exploiting the DNA repair defect in BRCA mutant cells in the design of new therapeutic strategies for cancer. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2005;70:139-148.
  11. National Institutes of Health. Olaparib as adjuvant treatment in patients with germline BRCA mutated high risk HER2 negative primary breast cancer (OlympiA). Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  12. National Institutes of Health. Assessment of the efficacy and safety of olaparib monotherapy versus physicians choice chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations (OlympiAD). Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  13. National Institutes of Health. Olaparib in gBRCA mutated pancreatic cancer whose disease has not progressed on first line platinum-based chemotherapy (POLO). Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  14. National Institutes of Health. Ph II study to evaluate olaparib with abiraterone in treating metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ovarian Cancer Statistics. Available Online. Accessed August 2017.
  16. National Cancer Institute. BRCA1 and BRCA2: cancer risk and genetic testing. Available Online. Accessed August 2017.

Source: AstraZeneca

Posted: August 2017

Related articles

Lynparza (olaparib) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.