ASCO: AZ, Lynparza of Merck against pancreatic cancer, halving the risk of progression



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CHICAGO – Merck's AstraZeneca and Lynkza have the wind in their sails to make the headlines at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – and to treat it in some of the most difficult cancers to treat. And it will not stop this year.

On Sunday, the drug companies categorically announced that Phase 3 data showed that the PARP inhibitor reduced the risk of disease worsening or death by 47% in patients with cancer. pancreas mutated by the BRCA gene that had not progressed after a first series of chemotherapy. Lynparza patients in the study, dubbed Polo, spent an average of 7.4 months without their cancer progressing, compared to only 3.8 months for placebo patients.

RELATED: Lynparza of AstraZeneca, in full battle for PARP, records a 42% survival victory in breast cancer

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In the previous year, Lynparza had managed to ward off cancer cancer in 34% of patients, compared to 15% for placebo. At the end of the previous two years, Lynparza continued the trend, blocking progression in more than twice as many patients as placebo (22% and 10%, respectively).

The results are "very exciting" as "we are now able to offer a chemotherapy-free interview option to patients who, for more than 10 years, have not made any significant improvements. Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President and Global Head of AstraZeneca's Oncology Department. business unit, said.

Pancreatic cancer is a difficult problem for drug manufacturers, in part because companies did not have a target to reach in development – until now.

"In the absence of these, chemotherapy is becoming your only option, which is not a great option for patients compared to the … other tools we have available to us in d & # 39; other types of tumors, "said Fredrickson, adding that" this would absolutely redefine the standard of care for pancreatic cancer gBRCA. "

And the results will change something else too, he predicts. "What will do, assuming it is approved, creates the imperative to make sure we test BRCA apart from women's cancers," he said. The company has a lot of experience in driving new test habits, he added, especially with Lynparza in BRCA mutated ovarian cancer.

RELATED: ASCO: AstraZeneca pioneer Lynparza coincides with the Zytiga combo in prostate cancer

"I am confident that in a disease as difficult to treat as pancreatic cancer, we will be able to collaborate with the community" to increase the number of tests and "I think that once we know that patients are affected of gBRCA, very clearly that they should be treated with Lynparza, "Fredrickson said.

Over the last three years, Lynparza has ranked among the top ASCO journalists with data from three distinct disease areas. Last year she had made waves with a Zytiga combo in prostate cancer and the previous year she had recorded a high number of breast cancer survival.

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