AstraZeneca reports positive results from breast cancer drug trial

AstraZeneca on Friday reported positive results from its Phase III OLYMPIAD trial of its breast cancer treatment Lynparza (olaparib).

Patients treated with Lynparza showed a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those who received chemotherapy (capecitabine, vinorelbine or eribulin), the company said.

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said: "These results are positive news for patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer, a disease with a high unmet need, and are the first positive Phase III data for a PARP inhibitor beyond ovarian cancer. This is highly encouraging for the development of our broad portfolio which aims to treat multiple cancers by targeting DNA damage response pathways."

Initial findings from the OLYMPIAD study indicate that the safety profile of Lynparza was consistent with previous studies.

Approximately one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of these patients, approximately one-third are either diagnosed with or progress to the metastatic stage of the disease. Despite treatment options increasing during the past three decades there is currently no cure for patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.