Novartis drug given all clear for breast cancer treatment

The Swiss healthcare giant Novartis has announced that United States regulators have cleared its hormone drug, Femara, for use in the treatment of breast cancer.

The tablet can now be used as a first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

Femara has already been approved as a follow-up treatment for women who have not responded to anti-estrogen therapy.

Approval of the new use followed a fast-track review by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

The approval was based on data showing that the tablet was in some ways significantly more effective than a standard therapy, Tamoxifen.

swissinfo with agencies