Pancreatic cancer: New treatment approved

The pharmaceutical group Helvetic got the green light from European authorities to market a new specialty drug for the treatment of cancer tumors called "neuroendocrine" of the pancreas. A phase III clinical study, on which the approval of the European Commission, showed that everolimus reduced by 65% ​​the risk of cancer progression compared to placebo treatment, said the lab in a statement. Novartis said that everolimus is effective, "including (for) patients who had received prior chemotherapy." This significant advance in the treatment of pancreatic cancer could appeal to others. Novartis specifies that the components of everolimus are used in the development of a treatment for some breast cancers.

This decision opens the medicine the 27 EU member states plus Iceland and Norway.