Novartis Sees Positive Phase III Results for Canakinumab
28 August 2017 - 8:35PM
Dow Jones News
By Sonia Amaral Rohter
Novartis AG (NOVN.EB) on Sunday said the results of its phase
III canakinumab study showed the inflammation treatment could
significantly reduce cardiovascular events such as heart attacks,
the first evidence to demonstrate that selectively targeting
inflammation can cut cardiovascular risk.
The results of the study, which looked at the use of canakinumab
to reduce the risk of recurrence of heart attacks in patients with
inflammation, were presented at a meeting of the European Society
of Cardiology in Barcelona.
Novartis said the results showed the treatment, which works by
inhibiting arterial inflammation, reduced major adverse
cardiovascular events by 15% and relative heart attack risk by
24%.
Related safety analyses also showed the treatment may reduce
lung cancer and lung cancer mortality, Novartis said. The company
will initiate additional phase III studies in lung cancer to
further explore this.
"The results of [the study] are exciting because we now have
clear evidence that in addition to lowering cholesterol, targeting
inflammation reduces patients' risk of cardiovascular disease, and
perhaps even lung cancer," said Paul Ridker, study chairman and
director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at
Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Novartis plans to submit the data for regulatory approval.
Write to Sonia Amaral Rohter at
sonia.amaralrohter@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 28, 2017 06:20 ET (10:20 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Novartis (NYSE:NVS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Novartis (NYSE:NVS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024