May 15, 2008
Strength and innovation of Novartis Oncology products and pipeline with potential to improve patient treatment demonstrated by more than 170 abstracts at ASCO annual meeting
- Unprecedented amount of research reflects depth and breadth of collaboration with investigators worldwide to develop new treatments for diverse forms of cancer
- Plenary session to highlight impact of Zometa®, the leading IV bisphosphonate, on relapse rate of patients with early-stage breast cancer
- Four oral sessions to feature RAD001, first oral once-daily continuous inhibitor of mTOR, including first results of RECORD-1 study in renal cell carcinoma
- Updated Phase II results with Tasigna® in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia to be presented
May 15, 2008
New data show Tekturna HCT® is twice as effective at reducing blood pressure than the diuretic HCT alone
- Recently launched in the US, Tekturna HCT is a single-tablet combination of Tekturna®[*] and the diuretic HCT for the treatment of high blood pressure[1]
- Both Tekturna HCT and Tekturna provide effective blood pressure lowering with good tolerability[1,2,3]
- Tekturna, first-in-class direct renin inhibitor, provides blood pressure reductions that last beyond 24 hours[2,4]
May 14, 2008
In a Phase II study, Novartis Meningitis B vaccine has potential to produce a protective immune response in infants[1], the age group most at risk
- Data show Novartis Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine has potential to be first vaccine to provide broad protection to infants against meningococcal B infections
- The meningococcal B strain causes 72% of meningococcal disease in Europe and is a major cause of the disease in other regions of the world
- Novartis MenB vaccine and Novartis Menveo® (MenACWY-CRM) vaccine on track to establish strong portfolio of meningitis vaccines
May 14, 2008
Significant blood pressure reductions seen in difficult-to-treat, black patients receiving Exforge®-based therapy[1]
- Study sub-group with severe high blood pressure shows largest blood pressure drop to date in an Exforge clinical trial[2,3,4]
- After only two weeks, Exforge delivered significantly greater reductions in blood pressure than amlodipine alone[1]
- 20 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure halves risk of death from heart disease or stroke[5]
May 06, 2008
Novartis Menveo® vaccine shows superior immune response against four types of meningitis disease in pivotal phase III trial
- First Phase III, head-to-head data show Menveo may offer greater protection for adolescents compared to Menactra*
- Novartis expects Menveo to be first quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine to protect from early infancy through adulthood
- More than 8 million infants and adolescents in the US and a significant number of children and travellers globally could benefit from Menveo[1]
April 28, 2008
Breakthrough technique pioneered at Novartis research institute restores light sensitivity in damaged retinas
- The Friedrich Miescher Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (FMI) announces a breakthrough technique that restores light sensitivity to previously unresponsive retinas
- Study published in the April 27 online issue of Nature Neuroscience shows that the new technique enabled blind mice to successfully perform visually guided behavioral tasks, an unprecedented result that opens the way for clinical trials in humans
- The approach pioneered at FMI could be an alternative to surgical transplantation of electrode arrays for the millions affected by blindness as a result of retinitis pigmentosa and late-stage macular degeneration
April 23, 2008
Novartis announces 20% average reduction in price of malaria drug Coartem® to further accelerate access in malaria-endemic regions
- Malaria affects 300 to 500 million people every year and is the biggest killer of children in Africa - every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria[1],[2]
- Coartem, a highly-effective artemisinin-based fixed-dose combination, produces cure rates up to 95%[3],[4]
- Since 2001, Novartis has provided more than 160 million treatments without profit to those most in need
- Price reduction made possible through efficiency gains in producing Coartem
April 21, 2008
Novartis reports higher sales and earnings in first quarter of 2008 showing healthcare portfolio well on the way to new growth cycle
- Novartis on track in 2008:
- Pharmaceuticals net sales up 6% (-3% lc) as flagship brands and key regions help offset 19% decline in US from ongoing impact of generics and Zelnorm marketing suspension:
- Sandoz benefits from fast-growing markets, particularly in Eastern Europe, as net sales rise 12% (+2% lc) and offset soft first-quarter sales in the US
- Consumer Health with solid performance as net sales rise 14% (+5% lc) driven by growth in Animal Health, OTC and CIBA Vision
- Vaccines and Diagnostics achieves dynamic net sales growth of 21% (+10% lc) while boosting investments in new meningitis vaccines and product portfolio
- Novartis expects record sales and earnings in 2008 from continuing operations
April 15, 2008
FTY720, a novel oral therapy in development for MS, shows sustained benefits for the majority of patients after three years of treatment
- Phase II study extension shows 68-73% of patients with multiple sclerosis remained relapse-free after three years of treatment with oral FTY720[1]
- New data demonstrate 89% of patients free from active brain lesions - the injury caused by MS - three years after starting treatment[1]
- MS, a devastating disease causing progressive disability, affects 2.5 million people worldwide including many young adults[2]
- FTY720 regulatory filings planned before end of 2009 in US and EU
April 15, 2008
Patients with early Parkinson's disease show better symptom control[1] and improvements in daily activities[1] with Stalevo than levodopa/carbidopa
- New data intended to support regulatory filings in 2008 with goal of expanding Stalevo indication to include treatment of early Parkinson's disease
- Stalevo currently used only when levodopa/carbidopa loses therapeutic effect prior to next scheduled dose[2] (referred to as end-of-dose "wearing off")
- Approximately 6.5 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease[3], a progressive and disabling neurological condition
