Rucaparib

Rucaparib is an oral cancer drug sold under the brand name Rubraca that inhibits poly ADP ribose polymerase 1, an enzyme cells use to repair damaged DNA. It was the first in its class of PARP inhibitors to reach approval, and it works best against tumors that already carry a BRCA mutation, since those cells depend on PARP more heavily to survive DNA damage and are especially vulnerable when it is blocked. The United States Food and Drug Administration granted rucaparib accelerated approval in December 2016 for pretreated advanced ovarian cancer, and it is now used as maintenance therapy for platinum sensitive relapsed high grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer. It is also approved in the United States for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer in patients with a BRCA mutation, with full regular approval for that use granted in December 2025. Common side effects include tiredness, nausea, and raised creatinine and liver enzyme levels in the blood.