How effective is Niraparib?

Current evidence suggests that niraparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor with manageable tolerability, is an effective new option for the maintenance treatment of adults with recurrent, platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, with or without BRCA1/2 mutations or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD).

Niraparib is approved for the maintenance treatment of recurrent, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer in patients who have a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Approval was based on results from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III NOVA trial. In NOVA, niraparib significantly prolonged progression-free survival (the primary endpoint), chemotherapy-free interval, and time to first subsequent treatment compared with placebo in patients with recurrent, platinum-sensitive, high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. The beneficial effects of niraparib were consistent regardless of BRCA mutation or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status, and most grade 3 or 4 adverse events were hematological abnormalities (eg, thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia). Adverse events were generally well managed with dose interruption or modification of niraparib.

NiraparibThe original drug has been launched in China and is included in medical insurance, but reimbursement is limited to eligible patients. The price of a common specification100mg*30 capsules per box may be more than 5,000 yuan. The original niraparib drug marketed overseas is more expensive than domestically. There are also generic niraparib drugs produced in other countries. Their pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original niraparib drug sold domestically and abroad. The price of 100mg*30 tablets per box produced by a Bangladesh pharmaceutical factory may be more than 1,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).