Zejula (Niraparib) for Ovarian Cancer

Overview
Zejula is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the maintenance treatment of adults with advanced or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. It is also approved to treat adults with advanced ovarian cancer who have received at least three prior chemotherapy regimens and whose cancer is positive for homologous recombination deficiency. Zejula is also referred to by its drug name, niraparib.

Zejula 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 of cancer cells.

Zejula is believed to work by inhibiting these enzymes, disrupting cancer cell survival processes and resulting in cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Zejula is taken orally as a capsule once daily.

Zejula should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Zejula lists common side effects including nausea, low white blood cell counts, low red blood cell counts, fatigue, constipation, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, reduced appetite, insomnia, headache, shortness of breath, rash, diarrhea, high blood pressure, cough, dizziness, acute kidney injury, urinary tract infection, and low blood magnesium levels.

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

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Zejula — GSK
https://zejula.com/

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