Novartis AG said Thursday that its drug Afinitor met key treatment goals in a late-stage study on pancreatic cancer patients.
The company said Afinitor, combined with supportive care, extended the time patients survived without the cancer progressing. Full results from the study will be submitted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology's annual meeting taking place in Milan, Italy, in October.
Afinitor is already approved as a treatment for kidney cancer patients.
Shares of Novartis fell 6 cents to $45.91 in afternoon trading.