Lynparza hits Phase III targets in breast cancer, improving PFS

Positive results from the Phase III OLYMPIAD trial comparing Lynparza  (olaparib) tablets (300mg twice daily) to physician’s choice of a standard of care chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer harbouring germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have been announced today.

Patients treated with Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) Lynparza showed a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those who received chemotherapy (capecitabine, vinorelbine or eribulin).

Sean Bohen, executive vice president, global medicines development and chief medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said: “These results are positive news for patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer, a disease with a high unmet need, and are the first positive Phase III data for a PARP inhibitor beyond ovarian cancer. This is highly encouraging for the development of our broad portfolio which aims to treat multiple cancers by targeting DNA damage response pathways.”