Clovis Oncology Inc (CLVS)’s Ovarian Cancer Drug Faces Stiff Competition From AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (AZN), TESARO Inc (TSRO)

Trials of rival drugs from AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) and TESARO Inc (NASDAQ:TSRO) will determine the adoption of the PARP inhibitor, Rubraca from Clovis Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:CLVS).

According to Debjit Chattopadhyay, a Janney analyst, trials from AstraZeneca and Tesaro are likely to change the role of PARP inhibitors from being second to front-line treatments. This will result in a reduction of the pool of Rubraca patients.

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At the moment AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) and TESARO Inc (NASDAQ:TSRO) are in the process of testing PARP (Poly ADP ribose polymerase) to establish whether or not the enzymes could offer any help in the treatment of ovarian and other cancers.

Many More Trials Are In Waiting

There seems to be much more into Rubraca’s adoption. Chattopadhyay says that the adoption may also be affected by AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (NYSE:AZN)’s SOLO-2 trial as well as TESARO Inc (NASDAQ:TSRO)’s PRIMA. However, there was a notable progression of PARP inhibitor niraparib from an earlier phase three trial from Tesaro, commonly known as NOVA.

Nonetheless, Chattopadhyay says, “If SOLO-2 is not in the same ballpark as NOVA, questions on interchangeability of PARPs could impact Clovis shares heading into ARIEL-3 readout.”

For ARIEL-3, Rubraca is a maintenance treatment, which is commonly used in patients with an ovarian fallopian tube.

Clovis Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:CLVS) stock fell 1.1% to $61.83. However, this year has had a 40% run so far. Chattopadhyay acknowledges that Clovis shares have been doing well since early-November, classifying the rise as “too far, too fast.”

Clearly, there has been a neck-and-neck race between the Clovis drug, which was approved in December and Tesaro’s New Drug Application for an ovarian cancer drug. This won priority review a day after the Clovis Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:CLVS) approval. At the same time, there have been important plans for acquisitions. For $5.2 billion, Takeda Pharmaceuticals is planning to acquire Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARIA) as well as Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:MACK)’s $575 million divestiture from an oncology asset.

Note: This article is written by Adam Russell and originally published at Market Exclusive.