Targeted therapies are changing how doctors treat some cases of ovarian cancer. These medications target specific proteins or gene changes inside cancer cells. Doctors use biomarker testing — examining a sample of the tumor — to find out what’s driving the cancer to grow. If a treatment matches the tumor’s biomarker, it can target the tumor more precisely.

People living with ovarian cancer now have more targeted treatment options than ever before. Below is a brief overview of targeted therapies already in use, followed by highlights of newer drugs approved since 2022 and promising research that could shape future treatment.

Targeted Therapy Options for Ovarian Cancer

Targeted therapies have been used in ovarian cancer care for many years and may be part of treatment at different stages of the disease.

Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab blocks a protein called VEGF that helps tumors grow new blood vessels. This medication is used with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment, as a maintenance therapy, and for platinum-sensitive or platinum-resistant recurrent disease. Bevacizumab is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion into a vein. Side effects can include high blood pressure, headaches, and a higher risk of bleeding.

Targeted therapies can fight some ovarian cancer cases by blocking proteins that cancer cells need to repair damage or preventing the growth of new blood vessels to feed the tumor.

PARP Inhibitors

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors block a protein that cancer cells use to repair damaged DNA. PARP inhibitors are used as maintenance therapy after chemotherapy with a platinum-based drug and include:

• Niraparib (Zejula), which doesn’t require a biomarker
• Olaparib (Lynparza), used for cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
• Olaparib with bevacizumab, used for cancer cells with high genomic instability, with or without a BRCA mutation
• Rucaparib (Rubraca), used in people with or without BRCA mutations

PARP inhibitors are taken as pills and may cause nausea, fatigue, or low blood counts.

Kinase Inhibitors

Kinase inhibitors target cancer cells with rare gene fusions like NTRK fusions or RET. Although these fusions are uncommon in ovarian cancer, people who have them may respond well to targeted drugs. These medications, such as larotrectinib and entrectinib, are taken as pills and may cause dizziness or nausea, joint or muscle pain, and abnormal blood cell counts.

Newer Ovarian Cancer Therapies and Research Advances

The treatments above have been used for years and continue to help many people today. At the same time, several important advances have taken place recently. Newer targeted therapies approved since 2022 are giving people more options, especially when cancer comes back or stops responding to earlier treatments. The list below highlights these newer therapies and promising research that may guide the next wave of care.

1. Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-Gynx

Approved in 2022, mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere) is used for people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer that tests high for folate receptor alpha (FR-alpha) and who have had one to three prior treatments. Over 50 percent of serous ovarian cancers show high levels of FR-alpha, based on common biomarker tests.

This treatment delivers a cancer-killing drug directly into FR-alpha-positive cancer cells. It’s given by IV infusion every three weeks. Common side effects include eye irritation, blurry vision, dry eyes, tiredness, nausea, and stomach discomfort.

Newer drugs for ovarian cancer can target proteins such as folate receptor alpha and HER2 and gene changes such as KRAS mutations.

2. Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan-Nxki

In 2024, the FDA approved fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) for HER2-positive solid tumors, which include certain ovarian cancers. HER2 is a protein that helps cells grow and is found at high levels in some tumors.

This medication finds HER2 on cancer cells and delivers a drug inside the cell. It’s given as an IV infusion every three weeks. Common side effects include nausea, tiredness, and low blood counts. One rare but serious side effect is lung inflammation, so any new cough or breathing problems should be reported right away.

3. Avutometinib Plus Defactinib

In 2025, this combination was approved for low-grade serous ovarian cancer with a KRAS mutation in people who’ve already had treatment. KRAS mutations appear in about 15 percent to 54 percent of low-grade serous ovarian cancers and can help tumors grow faster.

Avutometinib and defactinib target different pathways that help low-grade serous ovarian cancer grow, and using them together may slow tumor growth. Both medications are taken as pills. Side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, swelling, skin changes, and tiredness.

4. New Bevacizumab Biosimilars

Bevacizumab blocks VEGF, a protein that helps tumors grow new blood vessels. Newly approved biosimilar drugs work the same way as the original medication and provide more options.

These drugs are given as IV infusions. Common side effects include high blood pressure, headaches, and a higher risk of bleeding.

5. WEE1 Inhibitors in Late-Phase Studies

WEE1 is a protein that helps cancer cells repair damaged DNA. WEE1 inhibitors block this repair process and make cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment. One of the most studied medications in this group, adavosertib, has shown promising results in late-stage clinical trials for recurrent ovarian cancer.

6. New Folate Receptor Alpha Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Researchers are developing new antibody-drug conjugates that target folate receptor alpha (FR-alpha), the same protein targeted by mirvetuximab soravtansine. These medications are currently available only through clinical trials but may offer future options for people who’ve already tried mirvetuximab soravtansine.

7. PI3K, AKT, and mTOR Pathway Inhibitors

Some ovarian cancers rely on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway — a series of biochemical reactions — to grow. Several new treatments aim to block this pathway and are being studied in clinical trials.

8. CLDN6-Targeted Therapies and Other New Targets

The protein CLDN6 is found on some ovarian cancer cells but not on most healthy tissues. Researchers are testing therapies that target CLDN6, including antibody-drug conjugates and immune-based treatments. Early results from clinical trials show signs of tumor shrinkage in some people.

More Options Than Ever Before

Targeted therapies now play a major role in ovarian cancer care. Newer medicines approved in the past few years are expanding treatment options for people whose cancer didn’t respond to earlier treatments. To find out if any of these newer therapies may be able to target your tumor, ask your doctor about biomarker testing. This testing looks for specific proteins or gene changes in your tumor and can help guide the next steps in your care.

To find out if any of these newer therapies may be able to target your ovarian cancer, ask your doctor about biomarker testing.

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