Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of niraparib for the treatment of ovarian cancer

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is a disease with a propensity to recur despite dramatic responses to initial treatment, which typically consists of a combination of cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. A maintenance therapy, which may prevent or delay relapse while not negatively impacting quality of life, is critical to improving outcomes.

Areas covered: This review discusses the pharmacologic properties, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of niraparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Expert opinion: Following presentation of ENGOT-OV16/NOVA at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress, niraparib became the first PARP inhibitor to receive full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the maintenance treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer, regardless of a patient’s germline or somatic mutational status. This approval has had a sweeping impact on treatment strategies, moving the indication for a PARP inhibitor earlier in the treatment course and greatly expanding the population of patients who may benefit from this class of drugs. Active clinical trials suggest that new indications and novel treatment combinations are eagerly sought.