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EMA recommends approval of ovarian cancer drug

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) panel has recommended the approval of Tesaro Inc’s key drug, niraparib, for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer, reports Reuters Health. The recommendation comes months after the drug’s approval and launch in the US.

Epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer affects the tissue covering the ovary or lining of the fallopian tube or abdominal wall.

The report says niraparib kills cancer cells by inhibiting the production of proteins called poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), which helps repair damaged DNA strands, thereby hastening the death of some types of cancer cells.

Effective PARP inhibitors are sought after by drug-makers because of their potential to be used in combination with other types of cancer treatments to create new breakthrough treatments.

[link url="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesaro-ema/tesaros-ovarian-cancer-drug-gets-eu-agency-backing-idUSKCN1BQ1HM"]Reuters Health report[/link]

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