Overview
Lynparza is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that has either germline or somatic mutations (variations) in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes. It is used as a single agent in individuals whose disease has progressed after prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone. Lynparza is also approved in combination with abiraterone and prednisone (or prednisolone) for individuals with BRCA-mutated mCRPC. In both cases, a person must be selected based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic. Individuals receiving Lynparza for mCRPC should also receive a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog concurrently or should have had bilateral orchiectomy (surgical removal of both testicles). Lynparza is also known by its drug name, olaparib.

Lynparza is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. It works by preventing cancer cells with faulty DNA repair genes from repairing themselves, which leads to cell death and slows cancer progression.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states  Lynparza is taken orally twice daily, with or without food. Lynparza should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Lynparza include nausea, fatigue (including weakness), anemia (low red blood cell count), diarrhea, decreased appetite, dizziness, abdominal pain, and lymphopenia (low levels of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell).

Rare but serious side effects may include myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia (types of blood cancers), pneumonitis (inflammation of lung tissue), venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the veins), pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung), and hepatotoxicity (liver damage), including drug-induced liver injury. These conditions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Lynparza may also cause harm to an unborn baby.

For more information about this treatment, visit:
Lynparza (Olaparib) Tablets, for Oral Use — AstraZeneca