AstraZeneca has revived efforts to develop, olaparib, a drug with the potential treat ovarian cancer.
Studies have been launched for the drug, which is being investigated for the the treatment of BRCA mutated ovarian cancer.
AstraZeneca has manufacturing and administrative operations in northern Delaware.
An analysis of findings demonstrated olaparib’s potential as a maintenance treatment for platinum-sensitive relapsed patients with BRCA mutated ovarian cancer, according to a release.
A pre-tax impairment charge of $285 million in 2011 following the decision not to progress olaparib into phase III development, will be reversed in the third quarter of this year.
Antoine Yver, Vice President and Head of Oncology in AstraZeneca’s Global Medicines Development unit said: “This is a significant milestone for olaparib, and further evidence of AstraZeneca’s commitment to invest in distinctive science in our core therapy areas, with a particular focus on high unmet need. We feel olaparib has real potential to significantly improve treatment decisions for this group of patients who currently have limited options, and to become the next important product in our growing oncology portfolio.”
Currently,, only 15 per cent of ovarian cancers are found before the cancer has spread outside the ovary. Despite advance, patients with ovarian cancer that has spread beyond the ovary have a five-year survival rate is well below 50 per cent.
