Health Canada conditionally approves Lynparza for some prostate cancer

Health Canada has conditionally approved Lynparza (olaparib) in combination with abiraterone and prednisone or prednisolone. The approval is for adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline (or suspected deleterious germane) or people with confirmed somatic BRCA mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer where chemotherapy isn’t indicated. The approval came after the PROpel Phase III clinical trial, which was published in June 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine Evidence. It found that Lynparza, in combination with abiraterone, reduced the risk of radiological progression or death by 77%, compared to abiraterone/prednisone alone. Lynparza selectively kills cancer cells by exploiting the tumour DNA damage response in cells or tumours with a deficiency in homologous recombination repair, including mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2. It was the first oral PARP inhibitor approved in Canada. Read: Indigenous men diagnosed with more advanced prostate cancer, Canadian study says “Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a complex disease with a poor prognosis, making informed treatment decisions after a man's initial diagnosis critical,” Dr. Fred Saad, professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery and Director of G-U Oncology at the University of Montreal, said in a press release from AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca and Merck developed and commercialized the drug. “Lynparza has demonstrated its clinical benefit in combination with a new generation hormonal agent in this setting, offering patients an effective and well-tolerated new treatment option that can potentially reduce the risk of disease progression or death,” said Dr. Saad. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, prostate cancer comprised 20% of new cancer cases in men in 2022 and 10% of cancer deaths in men. “The high mortality rates associated with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer can invoke an added layer of fear and anxiety for men who have been diagnosed,” said Jackie Manthorne, president and CEO of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. “We welcome the approval of new treatments like Lynparza that can help bring a renewed sense of hope to patients and their families.” Read: Digital rectal examination: not reliable enough to detect prostate cancer?

Health Canada conditionally approves Lynparza for some prostate cancer

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