LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - AstraZeneca said on Friday that positive high-level results from the 'PROpel' phase 3 trial showed 'Lynparza', or olaparib, in combination with abiraterone, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) versus standard-of-care abiraterone, as a first-line treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), with or without homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations.
The FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant said that at a planned interim analysis, the independent data monitoring committee found that the trial met the primary endpoint of rPFS in men with mCRPC who had not received treatment in the first-line setting, including with new hormonal agents (NHAs) or chemotherapy.

It said it also showed a trend towards improved overall survival, although that data was still immature.

Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men and despite an increase in the number of available treatments for men with mCRPC, five-year survival remains low.

"Today, men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer have limited options in the first-line setting, and sadly often the disease progresses after initial treatment with current standards of care," said executive vice-president of oncology research and development, Susan Galbraith.

"These exciting results demonstrate the potential for Lynparza with abiraterone to become a new first-line option for patients regardless of their biomarker status and reach a broad population of patients living with this aggressive disease.

"We look forward to discussing the results with global health authorities as soon as possible."

At 0850 BST, shares in AstraZeneca were up 2.73% at 8,905p.

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