Niraparib

Niraparib is an orally active poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. By blocking the enzymes responsible for DNA repair, niraparib induces cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Niraparib is selective towards PARP-1 and PARP-2. First approved by the FDA on March 27, 2017, niraparib is used to treat epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Niraparib was approved by the European Commission on November 16, 2017 and by Health Canada on June 27, 2019.

Niraparib is indicated for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced or recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

In Canada and the US, niraparib is also available in a combination product with abiraterone, which is indicated with prednisone for the treatment of adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In Canada, this combination product is also used with prednisolone and is reserved for patients who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and in whom chemotherapy is not clinically indicated.