Interim results from a major Phase III clinical trial of everolimus (RAD001) showed that the study met its primary endpoint. The interim results indicated that the investigational drug exhibited significantly higher progression-free survival in patients with advanced kidney cancer as compared to placebo. The Phase III clinical trial has been halted and investigators will now offer everolimus to trial subjects who are still taking placebo. Novartis has said that the trial results will be submitted for presentation at the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) annual meeting in May.

Swiss company Novartis AG has reported that an independent data monitoring committee stopped a major trial of an investigational drug after interim results showed significantly better survival rates in kidney-cancer patients taking the therapy.Novartis was in Phase III of clinical trials, but the independent committee stopped the trial, involving some 400 patients in a dozen countries, because the study met its primary endpoint. Researchers say the targeted therapy could have promise for people with late-stage renal-cell cancer. Researchers are also evaluating the drug’s use in neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma and other cancers.

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