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Olaparib Treatment D
Olaparib inhibits poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes, preventing DNA repair in cancer cells and causing cell death, particularly in BRCA-mutant tumors.
Olaparib (Lynparza) is a PARP inhibitor developed by AstraZeneca for BRCA-mutant and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive cancers. The drug works by inhibiting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, preventing DNA repair in tumors with defective homologous recombination pathways, leading to synthetic lethality. Approved indications span ovarian cancer (platinum-sensitive and resistant), breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer across multiple treatment lines. Olaparib is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor and remains a cornerstone of precision oncology, with peak annual sales exceeding $1.5B globally. The drug has demonstrated clinical differentiation through both monotherapy and combination regimens (notably with bevacizumab in ovarian cancer), and ongoing trials explore expansion into additional solid tumors including bladder, lung, and adrenal cancers. Commercial significance is substantial given the large addressable market in BRCA-positive populations and the shift toward biomarker-driven treatment paradigms.
At a glance
| Generic name | Olaparib Treatment D |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | AstraZeneca |
| Drug class | PARP inhibitor |
| Target | PARP1, PARP2 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
PARP inhibitors block the repair of single-strand DNA breaks. In BRCA1/2-deficient cancers that lack homologous recombination repair, this leads to accumulation of DNA damage and synthetic lethality. Olaparib is effective as monotherapy in BRCA-mutant cancers and as maintenance therapy following chemotherapy in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.
Approved indications
- BRCA1/2-mutant metastatic breast cancer
- BRCA1/2-mutant metastatic ovarian cancer
- Platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer (maintenance therapy)
- HRD-positive metastatic ovarian cancer
- Metastatic pancreatic cancer with BRCA mutations
- Metastatic prostate cancer with BRCA or other homologous recombination deficiency
Common side effects
- Anemia
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Thrombocytopenia
- Leukopenia
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Olaparib Treatment D CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Olaparib Treatment D updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- AstraZeneca portfolio CI