Afinitor poised to realise blockbuster ambitions?

pharmafile | July 25, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing Afinitor, Cancer, Novartis 

Novartis’ Afinitor may be set to make good on its blockbuster promise after receiving European backing for its second licence extension in as many months.

The CHMP gave a positive opinion to Afinitor’s (everolimus) use to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic, well or moderately differentiated neuroendocrine tumours of pancreatic origin in adults with progressive disease.

The advisers’ positive opinions usually translate into full European approval within three months.

Afinitor is already approved in the US to treat benign brain tumours (SEGA), a type of renal cancer, and for the prevention of some organ rejections, as well as a type of pancreatic cancer.

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In Europe the drug’s SEGA licence was recommended for approval last month and, if passed, will see it marketed as Votubia.

Afinitor has had a slow start, bringing in sales of just $243 million last year, but these new indications and the potential licence extension in Europe could help boost its chances of achieving its predicted blockbuster status.

Ben Adams

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