CELL BLOCKER

Name: Lynparza. What it does: Treats prostate cancer. How it does it: Stops damaged cancer cells repairing themselves.

The human poly ADP ribose polymerase enzyme, which repairs damaged DNA in human cells, is blocked. This stops the enzyme being used by cancer cells to repair themselves after being damaged.

The cancer is slowed down, meaning patients survive longer. What stage at trial: Phase III. Drug’s potential worth: £7.3bn.