Novartis says study shows Afinitor shrinks brain tumors in patients with genetic disease

NEW YORK (AP) - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its Afinitor drug shrunk brain tumors in 75 percent of patients during a midstage study.
The study involved 28 patients with tuberous sclerosis, a genetic condition that causes the growth of benign tumors in the brain and other organs. In the study, 75 percent of patients receiving the drug had a reduction in tumor size of 30 percent or more over a six-month period.
The company, based in Switzerland, announced the results Saturday ahead of its presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.
Afinitor is already approved as a treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma.