AstraZeneca introduces Olivia to help guide patients through an ovarian cancer diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis is Earth-shattering—there is disbelief, confusion and the need for clarity. AstraZeneca, as part of the Ovarian Cancer Commitment (OCC), has created Olivia, a comprehensive resource for people diagnosed with ovarian cancer, to help. 

The project was launched at the end of October at the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) 2022 Congress. It was developed by OCC founding partners ESGO, the European Network of Gynaecological Cancer Advocacy Groups and AZ with input from medical experts and ovarian cancer patients and is the first initiative launched by the OCC.

“A diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be extremely overwhelming and confusing. And living with ovarian cancer can have a significant effect not just on your physical state, but also on your emotional quality of life. So a key challenge that many patients face is access to reliable information and guidance,” Andrea Mugan, AZ’s global franchise head of gynecological/genitourinary cancers, said in an interview with Fierce Pharma Marketing. 

“As part of our mission to address the unmet needs in ovarian cancer, it was clear this was a good first step to really make sure that women living with ovarian cancer have the information resources available to make informed choices about their care, but also get the support they need when trying to balance cancer treatment, quality of life changes and the emotional physical needs.”

Part calming friend and part educational resource, the Olivia website features a video with an animated guide named Olivia who tells the viewer in a soothing British accent to make a cup of tea and then takes them on a tour of all that the site has to offer.

The site covers almost any question a person could have in relation to a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

And why “Olivia”? It’s actually simple enough: Starting with an “O” for ovarian cancer, the group was looking to give users a character they could really connect with. “Olivia” was a good international name making it easy for everyone to engage with her. The goal is to have the project be for worldwide use, so the OCC is looking to get it translated into different languages to eliminate any barriers for those seeking information.

“It’s a bit overwhelming when you're in the physician's office, and often you do a lot of your searching for more information when you get home,” Mugan said.

And, while the site is very comprehensive, it’s also set up in a very clear fashion, with “pathways” so that depending where in the journey the patient is, they can get the information pertinent to their situation—from initial diagnosis to if there is a recurrence.

Ovarian cancer is a main therapeutic area for AZ with its Merck & Co. collab, Lynparza, which made $2.3 billion last year, though it does have other cancer licenses.

PARP inhibitors are, however, under scrutiny, with GSK and Clovis, under pressure from the FDA, recently pulling from the market their PARPs in certain ovarian cancer treatment lines amid questions of whether these drugs were improving survival or in fact making it worse, notably in later treatment stage settings. 

In the fourth-line ovarian cancer indication, AZ and Merck also yielded to the FDA’s request, joining Clovis and GSK in pulling their PARP inhibitor’s nod in that indication, though there is as yet no word whether any other lines of treatment will follow suit.