Novartis reports positive data from Afinitor breast cancer trial

Novartis has announced results from a phase III trial that illustrate the benefits an Afinitor-based therapy regimen can provide in the treatment of a certain form of breast cancer.

Efficacy and safety data from the Bolero-3 study showed that Afinitor tablets plus Herceptin and vinorelbine significantly extended progression-free survival after prior therapy among HER2-positive advanced breast cancer sufferers.

This is the first study to show the potential benefits of Novartis' everolimus-based product in the treatment of this aggressive form of the disease, for which there is a pressing need for new therapy options.

Afinitor is currently approved in more than 65 countries for use in combination with exemestane for the treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.

Alessandro Riva, global head of oncology development and medical affairs at Novartis Oncology, said: "Everolimus works differently than any currently available treatment for HER2 positive breast cancer and these results support its potential expanded role in advanced breast cancer."

Earlier this month, the company reported positive real-world data demonstrating the benefits of its multipurpose eye drug Lucentis.