Generic Name: rucaparib
Drug Class: Targeted Therapy Medications
Company: Clovis Oncology
Approval Status: Approved
Generic Version Available: No
Drug Indication
Rubraca is a PARP inhibitor approved for maintenance treatment of people with recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer that is responding to chemotherapy, for previously treated ovarian cancer in patients with harmful BRCA mutations and for previously treated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in people with harmful BRCA mutations.
General Info
Rubraca blocks poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) proteins, which play a role in DNA damage repair. Inhibiting PARP leads to more DNA breaks in cancer cells, which halts cell division. People with harmful BRCA mutations do not make proteins that repair this kind of DNA damage, so BRCA-related cancers are especially susceptible to these drugs.
The ARIEL3 trial showed that Rubraca as maintenance treatment improved progression-free survival (PFS) in women with ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who were responding to platinum-based chemotherapy. ARIEL2 showed that Rubraca extended PFS in women with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer who had been treated with two or more chemotherapy drugs. The TRITON2 trial showed that 44% of previously treated men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with harmful BRCA mutations experienced complete or partial tumor remission. Rubraca was first approved in 2016.
Dosage
Dosing Info: Rubraca is taken as a tablet twice daily with or without food.
Side Effects
Common adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, unusual taste sensations, decreased appetite, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash and elevated liver enzymes. Rubraca can cause depletion of red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (neutropenia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can lead to fatigue, infections and easy bleeding. Potentially serious side effects include an increased risk of leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Rubraca can cause fetal harm used during pregnancy.
For More Info: https://www.rubraca.com
Patient Assistance Program Info: http://www.rubracaconnections.com
Last Reviewed: May 20, 2020
