"With nearly 40 per cent of renal cell carcinoma patients diagnosed at an advanced stage, new treatment options like Afinitor are essential to help these patients battle their disease," said Dr. Sebastien Hotte, Medical Oncologist, Juravinski Cancer Centre, and contributing investigator of the RECORD-1 trial, the basis for Health Canada's approval of Afinitor. "Prior to this approval, patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma had limited options once they experienced tumour progression after VEGF-receptor targeted therapy. Based on clinical trial data, Afinitor should be considered standard therapy when VEGF-receptor targeted therapy fails."

Afinitor inhibits mTOR, a protein in the cancer cell that controls tumour cell division and blood vessel growth. Preclinical and clinical data have established the important role of mTOR in the development and progression of several types of tumours.

Source: NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CANADA INC.