science wire

Phase III studies show once-daily Onbrez Breezhaler plus tiotropium improved lung function (measured by trough FEV 1 ) by up to 230 mL from baseline Results add to comprehensive data supporting Onbrez Breezhaler as an effective treatment for COPD with good safety profile Basel, May 15, 2011 - Results of two Phase III studies show that once-daily Onbrez Breezhaler (indacaterol) plus tiotropium produced a significantly greater improvement in lung

Basel, 11 May 2011 New drug applications submitted in the United States and Europe for vemurafenib in advanced skin cancer Vemurafenib is the first personalised investigational medicine to have shown

Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS) primarily affect children and adolescents , Approval based on Phase II US study of 28 patients showing 75% of pati

Data show Afinitor delays tumor growth and reduces risk of disease progression in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of pancreatic origin Afinitor represents a new approach to treat a

Basel, May 4, 2011 - A new Medicare analysis conducted by Johns Hopkins University presented today at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting represents the largest av

Rasilamlo combines in a single pill the only approved direct renin inhibitor, Rasilez, with the widely used calcium channel blocker amlodipin Data showed Rasilamlo provides greater blood pressure red

An anti-inflammation drug's well-kept secrets have finally been uncovered thanks to a type of yeast; a discovery that will impact treatments for other diseases and limit side effects. Sulfasalazine is a frequently used drug, but its anti-inflammation mechanism has remained, to date, poorly understood.

Committee votes unanimously in favor of everolimus to treat patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of pancreatic origin Phase III results showed everolimus more than doubled median progre

Independent data monitoring committee recommends stopping ENESTg1 trial as interim efficacy results show Tasigna is unlikely to show superiority Novartis remains committed to advancing treatment options for patients with GIST Basel , April 11, 2011 - Novartis announced today it is discontinuing a Phase III trial of Tasigna (nilotinib) for investigational use in the first-line treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee.

Gilenya delayed the progression of disability both for patients who were previously treated for their MS and for patients who had not received prior treatment 11 scientific abstracts on Gilenya effic

Basel, April 8 , 2011 - Novartis announced today that it has updated its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Afinitor (everolimus) tablets.

DEB025 plus standard of care (pegylated-interferon alfa 2a/ribavirin) showed superior viral cure vs standard of care alone (p=0.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extends review period for new drug application (NDA) by three months to July 2011 Additional time requested to complete review of the large amount of data from c

Novartis acquires 85 percent stake in Tianyuan, one of the largest privately held vaccines companies in China Novartis to collaborate with Tianyuan on strengthening its existing product portfolio and

Gilenya approved in the EU for people with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) despite treatment with beta interferon, or in patients with rapidly evolving severe RRMS Gilenya showed superior efficacy to interferon beta-1a IM, a commonly prescribed treatment, reducing relapses by 52% (p<0.001) at one year Two-year, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that Gilenya significantly reduced the risk of disability pr

Lucentis recommended for approval in EU for visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to branch- and central-retinal vein occlusion (RVO) Pivotal data show rapid and significant improvements i

COMFORT-II data show INC424 provides marked clinical improvement in patients with myelofibrosis, measured by reduction in spleen size at 48 weeks compared to best available therapy Myelofibrosis is a

Phase III program demonstrated significant improvement in lung function lasting for 24 hours and supported safety and tolerability profile of QAB149 COPD is a progressive and life-threatening lung di

Researchers reveal in detail what is happening in the retina during the process of sight During the process of sight, light passes into the eye and triggers a whole series of chemical reactions. At the end of this process, a nerve pulse is generated that carries the visual information to the brain. At the beginning of the process, the light interacts with a protein molecule called Rhodopsin.

Rasilamlo combines in a single pill the only approved direct renin inhibitor, Rasilez, with the widely used calcium channel blocker amlodipine Data from over 5,000 mild-to-severe high blood pressure

Novartis OTC (Over-the-Counter) to become separate division in the group's diversified healthcare portfolio with Kelman reporting to Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis Basel , February 17, 2011 - Novart

Two Phase III studies demonstrated efficacy benefits of combining once-daily Onbrez Breezhaler 150 mcg with tiotropium in patients with COPD , INTRUST 1 and 2 studies add to comprehensive data supporting Onbrez Breezhaler as effective treatment for COPD with good safety profile Results to be presented at ATS congress in May, 2011 Basel, February 10, 2011 - Novartis has announced that two Phase III studies show that patients with chronic obstruct

RADIANT-3 trial shows everolimus more than doubled median progression-free survival from 4.6 to 11.0 months versus placebo No tumor growth after 18 months in 34% of the patients treated

Basel, 08 February 2011 Third phase III study of Avastin-based regimen met primary endpoint in ovarian cancer Avastin study in recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer showed women lived significantly longer without their disease getting worse Roche announced today that OCEANS, a phase III study evaluating Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine) followed by continued use of Avastin alone until disease progression in women with previously treated (recurrent), platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint.

Expanded age indication of Menveo offers new option to help protect young children from 2 to 10 years of age against potentially devastating meningococcal disease Novartis to resubmit Menveo infant i

Novartis to acquire Genoptix through an all cash tender offer at USD 25.00 per share Genoptix laboratory service offerings provide strategic fit with the current portfolio of companion diagnos

Gilenya offers an alternative to frequent injections, which is a major advance for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Switzerland and Australia Gilenya showed enhanced efficacy to interferon beta-1a IM, a commonly prescribed treatment, reducing relapses by 52% (p<0.001) at one year Two-year, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that Gilenya significantly reduced the risk of disability progression Basel, January 24,

Gilenya recommended in the EU for people with highly active relapsing-remitting MS despite treatment with beta interferon, or in patients with rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting MS Gilenya showed superior efficacy to interferon beta-1a IM, a commonly prescribed treatment, reducing relapses by 52% (p<0.001) at one year Two-year, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that Gilenya significantly reduced the risk of disability prog

Start of phase II clinical study in patients for Sandoz biosimilar rituximab (Roche's Rituxan / Mabthera ) Sandoz already has robust, high-yield in-house production process Milestone reinforces Sando

Lucentis (ranibizumab) is the first licensed therapy to improve vision and vision-related quality of life in patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) Pivotal data showed Lu

Basel, 05 January 2011 FDA grants supplemental approval for ACTEMRA ACTEMRA now includes labeling for the inhibition and slowing of structural joint damage, improvement of physical function, and achievement of major clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis Roche today announced that the United States (U.S.

European Commission approves Novartis drug Tasigna for treatment of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia Pivotal Phase III data show superiority over standard of care Glivec in

Novartis drug Tasigna approved in Japan for treatment of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia Approval based on Phase III trial showing superiority of Tasigna to standard of car

Novartis investigational JAK inhibitor INC424 data met primary endpoint in Phase III trial of patients with myelofibrosis COMFORT-I trial shows INC424 provides significant clinical improvement in patients with myelofibrosis as measured by spleen size reduction High unmet medical need exists for patients with myelofibrosis, an uncommon and debilitating blood cancer Full results to be submitted for presentation at upcoming medical congress; worldw

Novartis affirms commitment to Russia through USD 500 million multi-year healthcare investment Novartis signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with City of St. Petersburg for construction of

Basel, 16 December 2010 Roche provides update on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer following reviews in Europe and the United States Roche confirmed that following the reviews of Avastin (bevacizu

Novartis to become global leader in eye care, with agreement of 100% merger with Alcon Novartis Board of Directors unanimously approves merger for a value of USD 168 per Alcon share totaling USD 12.9 billion, comprising share consideration of up to 2.

Study of Novartis drug Zometa for potential new use in early breast cancer did not meet primary endpoint in overall study population Interim results of AZURE trial report Zometa added to standard adjuvant therapy did not show disease free survival advantage compared to standard therapy alone In subgroup of women with well-established menopause, an improvement in disease free survival and overall survival was shown in Zometa arm Current applicati

Study shows Novartis drug Afinitor plus hormonal therapy delays disease progression in advanced metastatic breast cancer patients Randomized Phase II study shows 61% of advanced breast cancer patients on everolimus plus tamoxifen had no tumor progression at six months vs.

Basel and London, 9 December 2010 Roche provides update on leading late-stage pharmaceutical pipeline New data on medicines with the potential to redefine standard of care highlighted at Investor event   Roche today will provide an update on its leading late-stage pipeline comprising twelve new molecular entities in key therapeutic areas.

Novartis Phase II LBH589 data show substantial disease control and tumor reduction in extensively pretreated Hodgkin lymphoma patients LBH589 (panobinostat) shows sustained anticancer activity in Hodgkin lymphoma patients who relapse or are refractory after autologous stem cell transplant High unmet treatment need exists for patients who relapse or become refractory after initial treatment; patients are often in their mid-thirties or younger Bas

Longer-term Phase III data show Novartis drug Tasigna continues to surpass Glivec in slowing disease progression in patients with newly diagnosed CML Fewer patients taking Tasigna for Philadelphia ch

Phase III data published in Lancet show Novartis drug Zometa improves overall survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients This press release is not intended for United Kingdom news media Regimen including Zometa significantly improved both progression-free survival and overall survival when compared to regimen including oral clodronate Zometa provided significant clinical anticancer benefit independent of and in addition to significant

Data at ASH, SABCS demonstrate commitment of Novartis R&D in advancing treatments for patients with cancer and rare diseases 24-month update on Phase III data comparing Tasigna to Glivec in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase Afinitor plus hormonal therapy studied in patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer with prior exposure to aromatase inhibitors Zometa studies continue to explore anticance

Novartis discontinues ASA404 clinical trial program and shifts focus to other cancer compounds in early and late stage development Interim results from Phase III trial show ASA404 failed to meet primary endpoint of extending survival for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer Related impairment charges of approximately USD 120 million to be taken in fourth quarter 2010 Basel, November 11, 2010 - Novartis announced today that the

New data show potential for Novartis Meningitis B vaccine (4CMenB) candidate to cover majority of diverse meningococcal serogroup B strains Data show that antibodies induced by Novartis 4CMenB candidate killed 85 percent of a large collection of MenB strains in adults and 74 percent in infants , who are at highest risk for meningococcal disease Findings highlight the benefit of a multi-component MenB vaccine to provide broad coverage against div

Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is a benign brain tumor found in children and adults with tuberous sclerosis (TS) that can cause severe brain swellin. These data previously reported at ASCO show nearly one-third of the 28 patients studied had a reduction of 50% or greater in the size of their largest SEGA.Additional study findings showed treatment with everolimus resulted in a clinically relevant reduction in overall frequency of seizures, which are associated with TS.