Cancer Therapy Center

A four year study and safety profile in nearly 5,000 patients confirmed that Femara® (letrozole tables) reduced the risk of breast cancer returning, even in higher risk patients.

Longer term data comparing two arms of the independent Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98 trial were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Istanbul by Dr. Alan Coates, M.D. Postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer taking Femara had an 18% reduction in their overall risk of recurrance and an 19% reduction in the risk of their cancer spreading to another part of the body. Also, Femara resulted in substantial risk reduction in women whose cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis (risk of recurrence reduced by 23%), and those who had received chemotherapy (risk reduced by 26%).

“Longer-term data out to more than four years in 5,000 women provide the most compelling evidence to date that Femara helps to reduce breast cancer relapse in postmenopausal women,” said Diane Young, Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development at Novartis Oncology. “We are committed to ongoing research that will help define optimal treatment for women with breast cancer.”

About Femara
Femara® (letrozole tablets) is a once-daily oral prescription medication approved for the adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor positive early breast cancer. The benefits of Femara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will be needed to determine long-term results, including safety and efficacy.

Femara is also approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are within three months of completion of five years of tamoxifen therapy. The benefits of Femara in the extended adjuvant setting are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will need to determine long-term results, including side effects.

Femara is also approved for the first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Femara is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy.