Niraparib: First Global Approval

Oral niraparib, a highly-selective, potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and PARP-2 inhibitor, is approved in the USA for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. It is also under regulatory review in the EU for use in maintenance treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive, recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who are in response to platinum-based chemotherapy. In the multinational, phase 3 NOVA trial in adult patients with platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer, niraparib significantly prolonged median progression-free survival, irrespective of the presence or absence of a germline BRCA (gBRCA) mutation and irrespective of the presence or absence of homologous recombinant deficiency. Niraparib is also in development for use in other solid tumours, including breast and prostate cancer. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of niraparib leading to its first global approval for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.