AZN Astrazeneca Plc

By Carlo Martuscelli

AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) said Monday that a study of its cancer drug Lynparza used as a treatment for metastatic prostate cancer met its target.

The phase 3 Profound study showed that patients with certain genetic mutations who were administered Lynparza lived longer without their disease progressing compared with those given hormonal treatments.

The drug was able to reduce the risk of disease progression or death by 66%, Astra said.

Greg Rossi, vice president of the oncology franchise at the FTSE 100-listed pharmaceutical company, told Dow Jones Newswires that the impact was substantial.

Lynparza was being tested in patients that had mutations in a group of genes associated with cells' DNA repair mechanism. He said that Lynparza is able to exploit this vulnerability, and further impair the genetic function of cancer cells in order to kill them.

It is estimated that between 20% and 25% of patients with metastatic prostate cancer have at least one mutation in this group of genes, he said.

Mr. Rossi said that the company is targeting expanded U.S. approval for the drug in 2020. Astra developed Lynparza in collaboration with Merck & Co. (MRK).

Write to Carlo Martuscelli at carlo.martuscelli@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 30, 2019 10:44 ET (14:44 GMT)

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