(Sharecast News) - Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced on Thursday that Lynparza had been approved in China as a first-line maintenance therapy in BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer.
Lynparza, which was developed as part of its strategic oncology collaboration with US Pharma giant Merck & Co, received the approval based on results from a Phase III SOLO-1 trial on the drug, which showed that it "significantly reduced" the risk of disease progression or death in women with BRCA mutated advanced ovarian cancer by 70% when compared to a placebo.
AstraZeneca said 60% of women receiving Lynparza remained progression-free at three years, compared to only 27% of women receiving the placebo.
The drug was intended to be used to delay the progression of the disease for as long as possible, with the intent of achieving complete remission or cure.
Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president of AstraZeneca's oncology unit, said: "This approval marks a new era for women with BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer in China, where the prevalence of BRCA mutations in advanced disease is higher than the international average.
"The progression-free survival benefit of Lynparza observed in SOLO-1 is a significant step towards helping these women achieve long-term remission."
As of 0825 GMT, AstraZeneca shares had dipped 0.055% to 7,309p.
Astrazeneca (AZN)Today 07:46
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