Novartis - Articles and news items

Novartis gains European Commission approval for Lucentis®

Industry news, News / 6 June 2011 / Novartis

The European Commission has granted Novartis a new indication for Lucentis® (ranibizumab) to treat patients with visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO and central RVO), a sudden-onset disease where patients have difficulties with daily activities such as reading, cooking and driving.

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Achieving Quality & Process Excellence in the Pharma Industry

Industry news, News / 11 May 2011 / Fleming Europe

The recent economic downturn has influenced every industry. Although the Pharmaceutical world has avoided a big direct blow because of the nature of its products and services, this downturn has impacted the economic landscape dramatically. (more…)

Novartis gains FDA approval for Afinitor®

Industry news, News / 5 May 2011 / Novartis

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets for the treatment of progressive neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic origin (PNET) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease[4]. This marks the first approval of a treatment for this patient population in the US in nearly 30 years[5].

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Novartis drug Afinitor® recommended by FDA oncology advisory committee

Industry news, News / 12 April 2011 / Novartis

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended approval of Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets for the treatment of patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of pancreatic origin.

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Social media and the pharma industry

Industry news, News / 11 April 2011 / GDS International

Every other industry is getting on the social media bandwagon. But could social media actually prove beneficial to the world of pharma?

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Novartis shareholders approve merger of Alcon into Novartis

Industry news, News / 8 April 2011 / Novartis

Novartis shareholders today followed the Board of Directors’ recommendation, approving the proposed merger of Alcon, Inc. into Novartis. In addition, shareholders approved the issuance of up to 108 million shares which will be used as part of the transaction to exchange Alcon shares for Novartis shares.

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Novartis first-in-class antiviral DEB025 achieved sustained viral response

Industry news, News / 31 March 2011 / Novartis

Novartis announced today that a Phase II study with the first-in-class antiviral DEB025 (alisporivir) met its primary endpoint for achieving viral cure (24 weeks after stopping treatment) in 76% of patients with chronic hepatitis C 1. The study involved nearly 300 previously untreated patients infected with the most common form of hepatitis C virus (HCV), the genotype 1 (G1)1.

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Novartis completes acquisition of majority stake in Zhejiang Tianyuan expanding vaccines presence in China

Industry news, News / 22 March 2011 / Novartis

Novartis announced today that it completed the transaction to acquire an 85 percent stake in the Chinese vaccines company Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. This acquisition provides Novartis with an expanded presence in the Chinese vaccines market and is expected to facilitate the introduction of additional Novartis vaccines into China where there continues to be tens of thousands of new cases of vaccine-preventable diseases each year[1].

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Novartis receives European Commission approval for Gilenya®, the first oral multiple sclerosis treatment

Industry news, News / 21 March 2011 / Novartis

The European Commission has granted Novartis approval for Gilenya® (fingolimod) 0.5 mg daily as a disease modifying therapy in patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) despite treatment with beta interferon, or in patients with rapidly evolving severe RRMS.

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Novartis appoints Naomi Kelman as new Head of the Novartis OTC division

Industry news, News / 17 February 2011 / Novartis

Novartis announced that effective March 2, 2011 Naomi Kelman is appointed Head of the Novartis OTC Division and will become a permanent attendee to the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN), reporting to Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis.

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Novartis studies show Onbrez® Breezhaler® & tiotropium provided greater increase in lung function than tiotropium alone

Industry news, News / 10 February 2011 / Novartis

Novartis has announced that two Phase III studies show that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were treated with once-daily Onbrez® Breezhaler® (indacaterol) plus tiotropium experienced significantly greater improvements in lung function than those treated with tiotropium alone[1],[2].

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Novartis drug Afinitor® extends progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic NET

Industry news, News / 9 February 2011 / Novartis

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a study today that shows Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets plus best supportive care (BSC) more than doubled progression-free survival (PFS), or time without tumor growth, versus placebo plus BSC in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET)[1].

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