U. S. Food and Drug Administration gave given green signal to Afinitor made by Novartis for treating advanced kidney cancer in people that is ineffective to other therapies. Afinitor works by blocking cells' ability to communicate hence preventing the growth of tumors.

FDA said patients tested with Novartis' Afinitor lived more than twice as long without tumor growth as those who didn't receive the drug. The study by the Swiss drugmaker showed Afinitor delayed tumor growth nearly 5 months, compared with less than two months for patients not taking the drug.

Some side effects of Afinitor, observed during the trails were swelling of the mouth, weakness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fluid buildup in the arms and legs, and shortness of breath.