United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca and United States-based MSD have revealed that Lynparza (olaparib) in combination with standard-of-care bevacizumab has succeeded in a phase three trial in advanced ovarian cancer by meeting the primary endpoint, it is reported today.

The late-stage study, called PAOLA-1, assessed Lynparza plus bevacizumab in the first line maintenance setting in comparison to bevacizumab alone in women with advanced ovarian cancer, irrespective of BRCA gene mutations.

The primary endpoint is a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival. The investigational combination was indicated to have increased the survival of women without disease progression or death in comparison to Standard of Care alone. The product has been jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and MSD. It is a poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor, which has been approved for multiple cancer indications across the world.