New drug shown to fight treatment-resistant ovarian cancer, study finds
A groundbreaking new drug is showing promise in the fight against treatment-resistant ovarian cancer. Relacorilant, the drug tested in a phase 3 ROSELLA trial with Corcept Therapeutics in California, has been found to significantly improve overall survival and progression of the disease when combined with the chemotherapy drug nab-paclitaxel.
The ROSELLA trial, conducted in collaboration with The GOG Foundation, included 381 patients from around the world, spanning countries such as the U.S., Europe, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Australia. The results of the large, randomized phase 3 study revealed a 30% reduction in the risk of disease progression in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer when treated with the combination of Relacorilant and nab-paclitaxel, compared to those treated with nab-paclitaxel alone. Patients with platinum-resistant disease are those whose cancer returns less than six months after receiving platinum-containing therapy.
Moreover, researchers noted a significant improvement in overall survival with this drug combination. Relacorilant, which is administered as an oral pill, was well-tolerated by patients without any increased side effects. The drug is taken one day before, the day of, and one day after receiving nab-paclitaxel therapy, which is given via infusion every week.
Dr. Alexander B. Olawaiye, director of gynecological cancer research at Magee-Women’s Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh and principal investigator in the ROSELLA trial, expressed his excitement about the findings, stating that this new agent is the first of its kind in the battle against cancers with limited treatment options. Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, also commended the positive results of the trial, emphasizing the promising decrease in recurrence and death risk.
As research and technology continue to advance, new cancer treatments like Relacorilant offer hope for patients battling ovarian cancer. Olawaiye expressed his optimism for the treatment to receive clinical approval in the near future. The results of the ROSELLA trial will be presented at a medical conference later this year, with the findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2023.
The progress in cancer therapies over the past two decades has been remarkable, with an increasing number of approvals for innovative treatments. The news about Relacorilant marks another significant step forward in the fight against ovarian cancer. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking new drug as it continues to make waves in the field of oncology.
