Novartis buoyed by trial success in early-stage breast cancer, Health News, ET HealthWorld
Pfizer
's Ibrance.
But the earlier-stage setting, when tumours can still be surgically removed, is seen as a much larger market. Rival drug Verzenio by Eli Lilly has approval in the early setting for women at high risk of recurrence after surgery.
Kisqali was tested in both high-risk and intermediate-risk patients.
"Everything else being equal on the efficacy side, it is anticipated that Kisqali could beat Verzenio by offering a more convenient side effect profile," said Stifel analyst Eric Le Berrigaud.
He added that the trial update would be a boost to low market confidence in targets issued by Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan for annual sales growth of 4 per cent through 2027 and a core operating income margin of 40 per cent from 2027.
Novartis aims to spin off its generic drugs unit Sandoz in the second half of the year, making the company more reliant on its drug development fortunes.
Kisqali, which saw sales gain 31 per cent to $1.2 billion last year, is one of two new drugs with a particularly important role for the group's future sales growth.
The other is iptacopan, which is being trialled against a rare genetic blood disorder, possibly challenging AstraZeneca's drugs Soliris and Ultomiris.
Detailed trial results will be presented at a medical conference, Novartis said, without identifying the meeting or its timing. It will engage with regulators across the world to seek approval for wider use, the firm added.
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Monday, March 27, 2023 at 8:57 am