Singapore: A phase III study conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, US, has revealed that patients, who were suffering from non-cancerous kidney tumors or renal angiomyolipomas (associated with tuberous sclerosis complex ), experienced reduction in tumor size and progression after receiving treatment with Novartis' Afinitor (everolimus) tablets.

Affecting one-to-two million people worldwide, TSC is a genetic disorder that may cause non-cancerous tumors to form in vital organs, including the kidney and brain. Known under the brand name of as Votubia in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland, everolimus is the first and only medication for adult patients with these kidney tumors.  

Dr John Bissler, lead study author and Clark D West Endowed chair of nephrology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Us, said that, "The positive findings represent a significant advance for people living with TSC. Rare diseases such as TSC are often overlooked, making publication of these studies important to help further awareness among the medical community, as well as reinforcing the importance of monitoring individuals for this serious and difficult-to-treat condition."

"Novartis has a long-standing commitment to meeting the needs of patients affected by rare diseases, such as TSC, with a focus on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the underlying condition," said Dr Alessandro Riva, global head, oncology development and medical affairs, Novartis Oncology. "We strive to improve the lives of these patients with the goal of bringing the right treatment to the right patient across a broad range of diseases, based on patient need, not population size."