Sandoz confirms late-stage clinical development plans for proposed biosimilar aflibercept, a key ophthalmology medicine

  • Sandoz to begin enrolling patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in MYLIGHT Phase lll confirmatory efficacy and safety study1
  • Neovascular age-related macular degeneration accounts for 10% of age-related macular degeneration cases, but is responsible for 90% of AMD-related blindness2
  • With eight marketed biosimilar medicines globally and 15+ molecules in pipeline, Sandoz is investing in future of biosimilars for patients and healthcare systems

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Novartis Phase III Beovu® data show potential for fluid resolution in more diabetic macular edema patients with fewer injections versus aflibercept

  • In KESTREL and KITE, Beovu (brolucizumab) 6 mg met the primary endpoints of non-inferiority in change in best corrected visual acuity from baseline versus aflibercept 2 mg at year one in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients1

  • More patients treated with Beovu 6 mg experienced fluid (IRF/SRF) resolution at week 32 and week 52 versus aflibercept; fluid is a key marker of disease activity in DME1

  • Beovu demonstrated an overall well-tolerated safety profile in KESTREL and KITE …
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Novartis key growth drivers and launches continue momentum in Q1, maintaining confidence in growth. Group guidance for FY 2021 confirmed.

  • Q1 net sales declined -2% (cc¹, +1% USD), due to prior year COVID-19 related forward purchasing (approximately USD 0.4 billion)
    • Pharmaceuticals BU in line with prior year (0% cc, +4% USD) with continued strong growth from Entresto (+34% cc), Zolgensma (+81% cc), and Cosentyx (+11% cc). Kesimpta sales reached USD 50 million
    • Oncology BU grew +1% (cc, +4% USD) driven by Kymriah (+55% cc), Promacta/Revolade (+13% cc), Kisqali (+19% cc) and Jakavi (+8% cc). …
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Novartis key growth drivers and launches continue momentum in Q1, maintaining confidence in growth. Group guidance for FY 2021 confirmed.

  • Q1 net sales declined -2% (cc¹, +1% USD), due to prior year COVID-19 related forward purchasing (approximately USD 0.4 billion)
    • Pharmaceuticals BU in line with prior year (0% cc, +4% USD) with continued strong growth from Entresto (+34% cc), Zolgensma (+81% cc), and Cosentyx (+11% cc). Kesimpta sales reached USD 50 million
    • Oncology BU grew +1% (cc, +4% USD) driven by Kymriah (+55% cc), Promacta/Revolade (+13% cc), Kisqali (+19% cc) and Jakavi (+8% cc …
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World Malaria Day 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of robust health systems to respond to disease outbreaks and to control other deadly diseases such as malaria. On World Malaria Day, April 25, we are calling on the global health community to continue to uphold progress and commitments made in the fight to end malaria.

Follow us on social media at #MalariaFuture

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Novartis to initiate SMART Phase 3b global study of Zolgensma in children up to 21 kg, building on real-world experience

  • SMART study to extend data beyond patient population studied in clinical trials
     
  • New clinical study to evaluate safety and efficacy of Zolgensma in children up to 21 kg, adding to real-world experience and regulatory approvals in Europe and Canada

Basel, April 23, 2021 — Novartis today announced plans to initiate SMART, a Phase 3b clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec) in young children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) weighing ≥ 8.5 kg and ≤ 21 kg …

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Kesimpta® (ofatumumab) data at AAN showed reduction in disability progression independent of relapse activity in newly diagnosed patients with RMS

  • Kesimpta reduced the risk of disability progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) by up to almost 60% vs first-line teriflunomide in a subgroup of newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) according to new post hoc data from the Phase III ASCLEPIOS trials, further supporting Kesimpta as a first-choice treatment option for adults with RMS1

  • More than 50% of confirmed disability worsening events in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve RMS patients were PIRA, an emerging endpoint …
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Novartis signs initial agreement to reserve capacity and implement the technology transfer for the production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for Roche’s Actemra/RoActemra®

  • Initial agreement covers reservation of the large-scale state-of-the-art biologics facility in Singapore site for the production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for Roche’s Actemra/RoActemra®
  • Follows recent initial agreements for providing manufacturing capacity for CureVac and BioNtech   

Basel, April 15, 2021 — Novartis has signed an initial agreement with Roche to reserve capacity and implement the technology transfer for the production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for Roche’s …

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Bringing Chagas disease to people’s attention

Chagas disease affects approximately six million people, mainly in Latin America. The disease can be silent for decades until it may become fatal, leading to cardiovascular complications in up to 30% of patients. Like other neglected tropical diseases, Chagas disease often affects poor and marginalized communities.

For the second time in history, the global community officially celebrated World Chagas Disease Day in April 2021 to bring the disease to people’s attention. Discover the stories of people affected by Chagas disease.

Photographer Ana Ferreira travelled to Bolivia, …

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