Lynparza licensed as an ovarian cancer care treatment by the Cancer Drug Fund

AstraZeneca and MSD Marketing Partner Achieve Another Success for Targeted Cancer Treatment Lynparza (olaparib) in England.

NICE now recommends the drug inhibitor drug Parp on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) as an option for maintenance therapy of epithelial ovaries, fallopian tubes, or advanced BRCA-type tumors (FIGO 3 and 4). 4). primary peritoneal cancer responding to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in adults.

The decision is based on the results of the SOLO-1 clinical trial, which showed that the drug could prolong the progression-free survival of these women by about three years.

However, the trial has not yet shown an increased overall survival, which is why Lynparza is funded by the Cancer Fund, reserved for treatments for which there are uncertainties as to cost or effectiveness. clinical.

The decision is very fast on the part of NICE – it was only last month that Lynparza obtained its marketing authorization in this context – reflecting a more general change in the way in which profitability in England works with the sector.

Confidential price reductions are an integral part of these quick offers, which NHS England has worked closely with NICE and the companies. He is pleased to have reached an agreement that has "clear benefits for the benefiting patients, as well as for industry and taxpayers".

About 22% of patients with ovarian cancer carry a mutation in the BRCA gene, which must be identified via a companion diagnostic test.

"We have worked together with NICE and NHS England and are extremely proud to have obtained today's decision, " Mohit Manrao, director of Oncology Business Unit at AstraZeneca UK.

Highlighting the nature of the house The success of Lynparza, Manrao, indicates that the drug was discovered and developed in the UK. It is also manufactured and packaged in the North of England to provide patients worldwide.

"We hope this product of British science will help improve the survival outcomes of these patients."

This news is just another facet of Lynparza's strategy, which is developing a breakthrough in the clbad of parp inhibitors, now approved for the treatment of bad cancer, and is proposing new indications in patients with cancer. pancreas and prostate. .

Yesterday, the company's second quarter results showed that drug revenues were $ 283 million, up 89% from the same period last year.

However, AstraZeneca's satisfaction with NICE's decision on Lynparza contrasts with that announced just a few weeks ago. NICE rejected the use of Tagrisso, a drug targeting lung cancer, on the front line, citing PFS and OS data still uncertain, but also declared it ineligible for use on the CDF.

This prompted AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot to ask for "a thorough review of how NICE values ​​innovative medicines". This year, NICE has launched such a review, although a review of its QALY quality threshold has been ruled out.

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