Lab news: FDA approves new cancer drug

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug devised by scientists to treat a rare type of cancer.

Everolimus (Afinitor, Novartis) tablets are now permitted for use on patients with progressive neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of pancreatic origin (PNET) that cannot be treated through surgery or have spread throughout the body, Drugs Topics reported.

Scientists found that 410 patients with metastatic or locally advanced disease treated with Afinitor doubled their period without tumour growth, from an average of 4.6 to 11 months, and reduced cancer progression risk by 65 per cent.

This is the first new treatment approved for patients with advanced PNET for nearly 30 years.

Dr James C Yao, associate professor and deputy chair of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Drug Topics that the approval is an important advancement for the treatment of the rare cancer.

Cancer Research reported that about 7,680 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007 in the UK, which equates to 21 people every day.