OBJECTIVES:

Olaparib is a targeted therapy that inhibits the poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), conducting cancer cells to die. The efficacy of this drug has been evaluated on ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer; by different Health Technology Assessment (HTA) organizations worldwide.This review intends to analyze the full HTAs of Olaparib to summarize the similarities and differences presented in the evaluations and their potential impact on decision-making.

METHODS:

A literature review was conducted using the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, HTA Databases, HTA websites, and gray literature available until March 2022.

RESULTS:

30 HTAs were identified for more than seven agencies worldwide (England, Scotland, Germany, Canada, France, Spain, and Chile). The ovarian cancer indications (first-line advanced ovarian cancer with BRCA mutation, relapsed ovarian cancer, and first-line advanced ovarian cancer with homologous recombination deficiency plus bevacizumab) were the most evaluated (18 in total), followed by prostatic cancer (6), breast cancer (4) and pancreatic cancer (2). All the agencies present a positive recommendation for Olaparib in terms of Safety, Efficacy/Effectiveness, and Social and Ethics in ovarian, prostatic, and breast cancer; nevertheless, the pharmacoeconomic evidence wasn´t considered appropriate to their systems, requesting a confidential price negotiation with the industry. Olaparib’s use for pancreatic cancer was rejected by Germany and France, as the evidence wasn´t robust enough to consider a potential benefit of this product for this indication.

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite a clear difference in the methodology used by the HTAs agencies, the results of Olaparib are consistent in terms of a high benefit for patients with ovarian, breast, and prostate cancer; nevertheless, the pharmacoeconomic evidence wasn´t robust enough to accept the industry’s first price. Olaparib requires more clinical and pharmacoeconomic investigation in prostatic cancer to be considered for an HTA recommendation.