OnMedica – News – An Hereditary Ovarian Cancer Drug Approved

NICE grants faster access to life-prolonging drug olaparib

National Institute for Health and Wellness Excellence (NICE) announced that a drug previously used at advanced stages of treatment for advanced ovarian cancer could now be used much earlier in the treatment pathway.

NICE said that olaparib, an inhibitor of PARP (also called Lynparza and manufactured by AstraZeneca), would now be available for women with advanced ovarian cancer, a Peritoneal cancer and uterine cancer mutated by a BRCA gene, providing a new treatment option.

In the draft final guidelines released today, NICE said the drug – a tablet taken twice a day – would be paid via the Cancer Drugs Fund only if the conditions of the agreement were met. managed access between the company and NHS England and NHS Improvement for olaparib were respected.

Around 700 patients a year should benefit from this decision.

The use of the Cancer Fund is essential, but additional data was collected as part of an on-going clinical trial (SOLO-1), said NICE, which estimated up to present that olaparib delays the progression of the disease about three years compared with placebo.

However, it is not known if people taking olaparib live longer because the patients in the trial have not been followed long enough.

People with advanced ovarian cancer, fallopian tubes or peritoneum with a BRCA mutation are considered to have a high unmet clinical need because there is currently no maintenance treatment after a response positive to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

Olaparib works by preventing PARP protein in cancer cells from repairing damaged DNA, causing cancer cell death.

Meindert Boysen, director of the NICE Center for Health Technology Assessment, said, "The availability of olaparib tablets as a maintenance treatment is an important advance in the management of cancer." ovarian advanced mutation BRCA.

"Olaparib is already used for ovarian cancer, but we expect it to be very beneficial if it is used early. It is thought that it could potentially cure the disease in some people if it is administered before the first recurrence.

"We are delighted that the company has entered into a commercial agreement for olaparib, which will make it immediately available to people who currently have an unmet need for maintenance treatment."

John Stewart, director of the NHS's specialized commission, said: "Olaparib can potentially have a tremendous impact on the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, giving patients a better chance of survival, and NHS England has worked in close collaboration with AstraZeneca and NICE agreement that has clear benefits for patients who would benefit, as well as for industry and taxpayers. "

Cary Wakefield, President of the Ovarian Cancer Action charity, said, "Today's news has made personalized treatment a reality for women diagnosed with BRCA mutated ovarian cancer – a considerable progress in the way we treat the disease.

"However, genetic testing is essential for women to have access to this treatment, but despite the government's recommendations, we know that 29% of patients with ovarian cancer are not being treated. Addressing this inequality must be a government priority to ensure that women do not miss out on life-saving treatment. "

The latest NICE guidelines on the drug are expected to be released next month.