Rubraca (Rucaparib) for Ovarian Cancer

Overview
Rubraca is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. The drug is also indicated for treating adult patients with deleterious BRCA gene mutation-associated ovarian cancer who have already been treated with two or more chemotherapies. Rubraca is also referred to by its drug name, rucaparib.

Rubraca is a member of a class of drugs called poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. PARP is a family of enzymes (proteins) that can be involved in the proliferation (rapid increase) of cancer cells. Rubraca is believed to work by inhibiting these enzymes, which disrupts cancer cell-survival processes, resulting in cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Rubraca is taken orally as a tablet twice daily, with or without food. The drugs should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Rubraca lists common side effects including fatigue, nausea, weakness, vomiting, low red blood cell counts, low white blood cell counts, decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and inflammation of the mouth.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Rubraca include fetal harm, myelodysplastic syndrome (disruption in the body’s production of blood cells), and acute myeloid leukemia (a potentially fatal disorder of the bone marrow).

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Highlights of Prescribing Information — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/...

Rubraca — Clovis Oncology
https://www.rubraca.com/

Rucaparib (Oral Route) — Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ru...