Niraparib Approval Expands Access for Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Pharmacy Times^® spoke with Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, FASHP, FAzPA, about how the drug niraparib (Zejula, GlaxoSmithKline) could affect treatment options for patients with ovarian cancer. Niraparib was approved in April as the only oral, once-daily poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor monotherapy for the first-line maintenance treatment of platinum-responsive ovarian cancer, regardless of BRCA mutational status.

PARP inhibitors have grown quickly, McBride said, but there are several considerations for patients. Adherence, affordability, and other mitigating adverse effects are all important perspectives to maintain when considering this treatment, while also considering the indication. Taking all of these pieces together is essential to providing the right therapy for patients, McBride said.

Niraparib, in particular, will increase patient access to therapies by offering another option for patients’ unique needs.

“Across the board, having this new indication really opens up the access for patients and that only will help maintain those therapies for patients, as well, who are really showing the improvement right now in the [progression free survival] setting, but hopefully in the [overall survival] setting as well,” McBride said.