Lartruvo® (olaratumab) is a fully human immunoglobulin G subclass 1 (IgG1) 
monoclonal antibody that inhibits platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha 
(PDGFRα). The antitumor activity of olaratumab has been tested in vitro and in 
vivo, and inhibition of tumor growth has been observed in cancer cell lines, 
including glioblastoma and leiomyosarcoma cells. It represents the 
first-in-class antibody to be approved by regulatory authorities for the 
treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) in combination with 
doxorubicin, based on the results of the Phase Ib/II trial by Tap et al. The 
median progression-free survival (PFS), which was the primary end point of the 
study, was improved for patients treated with olaratumab plus doxorubicin 
compared to those treated with doxorubicin monotherapy (6.6 vs 4.1 months, 
respectively; HR 0.672, 95% CI 0.442-1.021, p=0.0615). Moreover, final analysis 
of overall survival (OS) showed a median OS of 26.5 months with olaratumab plus 
doxorubicin vs 14.7 months with doxorubicin, with a gain of 11.8 months (HR 
0.46, 95% CI 0.30-0.71, p=0.0003). In October 2016, olaratumab was admitted in 
the Accelerated Approval Program by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
for use in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of adult patients with 
STSs. In November 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted conditional 
approval for olaratumab in the same indication under its Accelerated Assessment 
Program. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase III study 
(ANNOUNCE trial, NCT02451943) is being performed in order to confirm the 
survival advantage of olaratumab and to provide definitive drug confirmation by 
regulators. The study is ongoing, but enrollment is closed. The purpose of this 
review was to evaluate the rationale of olaratumab in the treatment of advanced 
STSs and its emerging role in clinical practice.