Olaparid (Olaparib) 150 mg, 120 tablets: profile, composition and research

Reference page for Olaparid (Olaparib) 150 mg, 120 tablets. Active substance: Олапариб / Olaparib.

Key facts

What olaparib is

Olaparid is an antineoplastic medicine whose active substance is olaparib. It comes as tablets for oral use, and by its mechanism it belongs to the PARP inhibitor group.

Olaparib is linked to tumours that carry certain inherited mutations, above all in the BRCA genes. Such tumours occur in cancer of the ovary, breast, pancreas and prostate.

The medicine comes as 150 mg tablets. A pack holds 120 tablets.

How olaparib works

The role of PARP

Proteins of the PARP family take part in repairing DNA damage. When a DNA strand breaks, they are among the first to raise the signal for repair.

The tumour's weak point

In cells with non-working BRCA genes another DNA repair mechanism is already impaired. Add a PARP blockade to that, and the cell loses both routes of recovery.

Selectivity

Tumour cells with this feature accumulate DNA damage and stop dividing more often than healthy tissues, which keep at least one repair route intact. The effect is known as synthetic lethality.

Approved uses

The manufacturer describes several directions: cancer of the ovary, fallopian tube and primary peritoneum as maintenance treatment after a response to platinum-based chemotherapy; HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer with a BRCA mutation; metastatic pancreatic cancer with a BRCA mutation as maintenance treatment; and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with certain mutations.

An oncologist decides on the treatment, taking the molecular profile of the tumour into account. Before starting, the mutation normally has to be confirmed by testing.

What to keep in mind

Olaparib affects blood formation. Reductions in blood cell counts, nausea and fatigue are possible, so monitoring tests are done during treatment.

Some medicines change the level of olaparib in the blood. With certain antifungal and antibacterial agents, in particular, the regimen is reviewed by a doctor.

The medicine is prescription-only and is used in oncology alone.

Published research

Primary sources, verified against PubMed:

• Olaparib for Metastatic Breast Cancer in Patients with a Germline BRCA Mutation., PubMed 28578601 (N Engl J Med, 2017).
• Maintenance olaparib for patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation (SOLO1/GOG 3004): 5-year follow-up of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial., PubMed 34715071 (Lancet Oncol, 2021).
• Maintenance Olaparib for Germline BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer., PubMed 31157963 (N Engl J Med, 2019).

Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.

Precautions

• This is a prescription medicine and is used only under the supervision of an oncologist.
• Treatment affects the blood: blood cell counts may fall, and nausea or weakness may occur. Monitoring tests are ordered by a physician.
• The medicine is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Liver or kidney impairment, as well as bone-marrow conditions, require separate assessment by a doctor.
• Tell your doctor about every other medicine you take: some of them affect the level of olaparib in the blood.
• Signs of infection or unusual weakness during treatment should be reported to a doctor without delay.

Frequently asked