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What Is Afinitor?

Afinitor is a prescription medicine containing everolimus, a kinase inhibitor that blocks mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). It is used for selected breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, advanced renal cell carcinoma, and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related conditions. Afinitor comes as oral tablets. A separate product called Afinitor Disperz comes as tablets prepared as an oral suspension for specific TSC-related uses.

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What Is Afinitor?

Afinitor is a prescription medicine containing everolimus, a kinase inhibitor that blocks mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). It is used for selected breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, advanced renal cell carcinoma, and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related conditions. Afinitor comes as oral tablets. A separate product called Afinitor Disperz comes as tablets prepared as an oral suspension for specific TSC-related uses.

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How Does Afinitor Work?

Everolimus binds to the intracellular protein FKBP-12 and forms a complex that inhibits mTOR complex 1. The mTOR pathway influences cell growth, protein synthesis, blood-vessel formation, and glucose uptake. Blocking this pathway reduces signaling involved in tumor-cell proliferation. The same pathway is dysregulated in tuberous sclerosis complex, which explains everolimus use in selected TSC-related conditions.

What Is Afinitor Used For?

Afinitor is approved with exemestane for certain postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer after treatment with letrozole or anastrozole. Other uses include specified pancreatic, gastrointestinal, or lung neuroendocrine tumors, advanced renal cell carcinoma after sunitinib or sorafenib, TSC-associated renal angiomyolipoma, and TSC-associated subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. Afinitor Disperz also treats TSC-associated partial-onset seizures.

How Is Afinitor Taken?

Afinitor is taken by mouth once daily. The dose depends on the condition, liver function, drug interactions, adverse reactions, and, for selected TSC uses, body surface area and blood everolimus concentrations. Tablets are swallowed whole with water. Afinitor Disperz is prepared as a suspension before use. Afinitor and Afinitor Disperz should not be combined to reach a prescribed dose.

What Are the Side Effects and Warnings?

Serious risks include noninfectious pneumonitis, infections, severe hypersensitivity, angioedema, mouth sores, kidney failure, impaired wound healing, metabolic changes, bone marrow suppression, and fetal harm. Live vaccines are avoided during treatment. Blood counts, kidney function, glucose, lipids, and other laboratory values are checked during therapy. New breathing problems, fever, severe mouth sores, swelling, or infection symptoms need medical review.

Frequently Asked Questions About Afinitor

Is Afinitor chemotherapy?

Afinitor is a targeted kinase inhibitor rather than a traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy drug. It blocks mTOR signaling involved in cell growth and proliferation.

Is Afinitor the same as everolimus?

Afinitor contains everolimus. Everolimus is the active ingredient responsible for the medicine's mTOR-inhibiting activity.

What is Afinitor Disperz?

Afinitor Disperz contains everolimus in tablets prepared as an oral suspension. It is used for specific TSC-related indications.

Can Afinitor and Afinitor Disperz be combined?

No. Current labeling states that the two formulations should not be combined to reach the total daily dose.

References

AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ (everolimus) Prescribing Information. https://www.novartis.com/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/afinitor.pdf. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

DailyMed - AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ (everolimus). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2150f73a-179b-4afc-b8ce-67c85cc72f04. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Everolimus. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a609032.html. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Everolimus. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/everolimus. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Search Orphan Drug Designations and Approvals - Everolimus. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/opdlisting/oopd/detailedIndex.cfm?cfgridkey=283609. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.