Lynparza, an ovarian cancer treatment developed by AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) has demonstrated its ability to slow down disease progression. AstraZeneca now hopes that the use of the PARP inhibitor will be widened. The trial revealed that women who are suffering from ovarian cancer and who have a BRCA gene that is defective are able to live approximately 19.1 months without the disease getting worse when they are taking Lynparza.

Patients who were on placebo were, however, only able to live for 5.5 months without the disease worsening. Data also showed that when a central, blinded review was used to measure the progression of the disease, the number of months that a woman suffering from ovarian cancer was able to live without the disease getting worse was 30.2 months.

Adverse effects

Some of the more adverse effects that were experienced by the participants who took Lynparza include neutropenia and anemia. Anemia was observed in 19.5% of the cases while neutropenia was observed in 5% of the cases. Side effects cause around 11% of the participants to drop out of the trial.

Lynparza was one of the pioneering PARP inhibitors to get to the market after it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration three years ago. The approval however limited it to fourth-line use and the newest trial is meant to assist it in moving to being designated for second-line use. PARP inhibitors such as Lynparza work by blocking enzymes that are involved in the repair of damaged DNA and this helps to destroy cancer cells.

Tesaro lagging behind

Other pharmaceutical firms that possess PARP inhibitors include TESARO Inc (NASDAQ:TSRO) and Clovis Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:CLVS). Immediately after the announcement was made concerning the efficacy of Lynparza, the stock of Clovis Oncology went up while that of Tesaro took a beating. To treat ovarian cancer, Clovis has Rubraca which has already received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a second-line therapy. Niraparib, which Tesaro is developing, is currently in the third phase of a trial.

On Tuesday shares of AstraZeneca plc rose by 0.76% to close the day at $30.30.