Breaking a vicious cycle of inflammation

In response to dry soil, a sensor in a garden triggers a sprinkler to deliver a shower of rain. Disaster strikes, though, if the sensor gets stuck in the “on” position. The shower turns into a stalled storm that floods the garden.

A similar problem can occur in the body. Immune cells contain danger sensors. They respond to danger with a sprinkling of signals that trigger healing inflammation. But if the danger sensor gets stuck on, the result is chronic inflammation that can cause more damage than good.

Novartis researchers aim to break this pattern by silencing part of the …

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Novartis announces Phase III study of Jakavi® in chronic graft-versus-host disease met primary and key secondary endpoints

  • Jakavi® demonstrated superior overall response rate in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) compared to best available therapy, building on previous positive findings in acute GvHD1
     
  • Study also met key secondary endpoints, significantly improving failure-free survival and patient-reported symptoms1
     
  • GvHD is a serious and common complication of stem cell transplants with no widely approved treatment options for patients who do not respond to steroids2,3 …
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Helping clinical trial patients during a lockdown

Streets were empty in Wuhan, China. Transportation was suspended, travel restricted and social contacts reduced to a minimum. Hospitals postponed surgeries and limited routine care. While the world’s attention was focused on those infected with COVID-19 in the city earlier this year, other patients struggled to get the treatment they needed.

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Novartis delivered strong H1 performance. FY 2020 guidance confirmed at higher end for core operating income and lower end for sales.

  • Due to COVID-19 first half results are more representative of underlying performance than Q2, sales growth of 6%  (cc1, +3% USD) and core¹ operating income growth of 19% (cc, +14% USD):
    • Innovative Medicines grew sales 7% (cc, +5% USD) and core operating income 16% (cc, +11% USD)
    • Sandoz grew sales 1% (cc, -2% USD) and core operating income 26% (cc, +19% USD)
  • Net sales in Q2 from continuing operations2 declined 1% (cc, -4% USD) largely reversing forward purchasing from Q1:
    • Key …
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Novartis delivered strong H1 performance. FY 2020 guidance confirmed at higher end for core operating income and lower end for sales.

  • Due to COVID-19 first half results are more representative of underlying performance than Q2, sales growth of 6%  (cc1, +3% USD) and core¹ operating income growth of 19% (cc, +14% USD):
    • Innovative Medicines grew sales 7% (cc, +5% USD) and core operating income 16% (cc, +11% USD)
    • Sandoz grew sales 1% (cc, -2% USD) and core operating income 26% (cc, +19% USD)
  • Net sales in Q2 from continuing operations2 declined 1% (cc, -4% USD) largely reversing forward purchasing from Q1:
    • Key products …
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Novartis launches first-of-its-kind not-for-profit portfolio of medicines for symptomatic treatment of COVID-19

  • Portfolio of 15 generic and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines from Sandoz division addresses urgent unmet needs of low- and lower-middle-income countries to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms
  • Portfolio will be sold at zero-profit to governments in up to 791 eligible countries during the pandemic and until a vaccine or curative treatment is available
     
  • Early access to treatment for managing  COVID-19 symptoms is critical to preventing healthcare system overload

Basel, July 16, 2020 — …

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Novartis Phase III IRIDIUM data in Lancet Respiratory Medicine show benefit of Enerzair® Breezhaler® (QVM149), the first-in-class inhaled LABA/LAMA/ICS combination in uncontrolled asthma

  • Once-daily Enerzair® Breezhaler® (QVM149; IND/GLY/MF) was superior to once-daily IND/MF (QMF149) in improving the lung function of patients whose asthma is uncontrolled with LABA/ICS standard-of-care treatment1
     
  • In secondary analyses, improvements in lung function were observed with high- and medium-dose IND/GLY/MF compared to high-dose Sal/Flu1
     
  • In other secondary analyses, clinically meaningful reductions in moderate-to-severe (36%) and severe (42%) asthma exacerbation rates were observed with high- …
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Cancer didn’t stop for COVID-19

Throughout Myriam Mendila’s life, cancer has been ever-present. When she was only 8 years old, breast cancer took her mother. Later, her sister was diagnosed with the disease, and Mendila watched dear friends weather cancer odysseys of their own.

Witnessing the enduring impact of the disease is what inspired Mendila – now Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Medical Affairs at Novartis Oncology – to dedicate her professional life to helping find potential treatments for people with cancer. It’s also what made her well aware that, while so much of the world stopped for COVID-19, …

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Novartis receives EC approval for Enerzair® Breezhaler®, including the first digital companion (sensor and app) that can be prescribed alongside a treatment for uncontrolled asthma in the EU

  • European Commission approves once-daily Enerzair® Breezhaler® (QVM149; IND/GLY/MF) in the EU, the first-in-class LABA/LAMA/ICS fixed-dose combination for patients whose asthma is uncontrolled with LABA/ICS1*
     
  • Optional digital companion with sensor and app that provide inhalation confirmation, medication reminders and access to objective data to better support therapeutic decisions also covered by EC approval
     
  • Approval based on robust …
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