Novartis wins FDA approval for cancer blockbuster

The FDA has approved Novartis' Afinitor (everolimus) to treat the most common kind of kidney cancer. And analysts predict that the drug is on track to become a blockbuster, with new approvals for other cancers down the road.

Novartis submitted data showing that Afinitor delayed tumor growth by five months, with patients living twice as long without tumor growth as other cancer victims in the study's control arm. The therapy inhibits the mTOR protein that plays a key role in tumor cell division. Regulators approved the drug for patients who have already tried Sutent and Nexavar.

Novartis doesn't plan to stop with kidney cancer. The company's researchers believe that Afinitor could well play a big role in fighting a slate of cancers. The pharma company is now planning on gaining an approval to treat neuroendocrine tumors. New studies are underway for gastric cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, one type of liver cancer, and tuberous sclerosis.

- here's the release
- check out the report from the AP
- read the story from the Wall Street Journal

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