Novartis will present data that highlight advancements in targeted combination therapy research, and underscore the company's continued commitment to bringing innovative treatments to patients living with advanced breast cancer at the 2015 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), December 8-12. Novartis will present 55 abstracts showcasing key real-world data from Afinitor (everolimus), Tykerb (lapatinib) and several investigational compounds in advanced breast cancer.

"These data presented at SABCS reinforce the current focus toward combination therapies as the standard treatment for hormone receptor-positive, HER2 negative advanced breast cancer," said Alessandro Riva, MD, global head, Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs.

"Given the breadth of our portfolio, we are well positioned to explore innovative treatment combinations with the goal of providing the greatest benefit for patients living with advanced breast cancer."

Key Afinitor presentations show real-world data that add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the benefit of staying on treatment.

Investigational data in PI3K/mTOR and CDK 4/6 pathways demonstrate value of inhibiting multiple targets via dual or triplet therapy.

Data from the Make Your Dialogue Count (MYDC) survey, which sought to better understand how to improve communications among advanced breast cancer patients, caregivers and health care professionals, explore emotional effects of advanced breast cancer on caregivers.

Other noteworthy data to be presented at SABCS on Tykerb (lapatinib) and Sandoz proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim.