The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has asked all state drug regulators to withdraw AstraZeneca's anti-cancer drug Olaparib tablets. This drug which is mostly used for the treatment of patients with gBRCA mutation and advanced ovarian cancer and breast cancer has potential adverse effects, DCGI has said.
Olaparib tablets are a type of medication known as a PARP inhibitor or polyadenosine 5'-diphosphoribose polymerase (PARP) enzyme inhibitor, used primarily in the treatment of certain cancers, including ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. They work by blocking the PARP enzyme, which helps repair DNA damage in cells. In cancer cells with specific genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2, this inhibition leads to cell death, slowing cancer progression. Olaparib is typically prescribed for patients with advanced cancers that have not responded to other treatments. Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, and anemia.
