By Angela Chen
Novartis AG's Entresto drug has been approved by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration for the treatment of heart failure.
The FDA's decision is based on a study that enrolled nearly
8,5000 patients. The study ended early when it showed that Entresto
"significantly" reduced the risk of death when compared with a
treatment called enalapril, according to the Swiss pharmaceutical
company.
The treatment, also known as sacubitril/valsartan, is usually
prescribed alongside other heart failure therapies for patients
with reduced ejection fraction, meaning their heart muscle that
doesn't contract effectively.
Entresto is undergoing review in several countries and, if
approved, could have sales of more than $5 billion, Novartis
said.
It added that nearly six million people in the U.S. have heart
failure, of which about half have the form with reduced ejection
fraction.
Novartis most recently reported a rise in first-quarter
earnings, after it closed deals with GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly
and Co.
Write to Angela Chen at angela.chen@dowjones.com
Access Investor Kit for Novartis AG
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=CH0012005267
Access Investor Kit for Eli Lilly & Co.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US5324571083
Access Investor Kit for Novartis AG
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US66987V1098
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires