World Chagas Disease Day 2020

Chagas disease is a major public health challenge. It affects approximately 6 million people1, mainly in Latin America. Less than 1% of affected individuals receive proper treatment2. 

For the first time, the global community is preparing to celebrate April, 14 as the first World Chagas Disease Day. One of the aims is to raise the visibility and public awareness of people with Chagas disease and the resources needed for the prevention, control or elimination of the disease3.

Chagas disease is one of four Novartis global health flagship programs …

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Novartis COVID-19 Response Fund provides support to healthcare workers and communities

Novartis is making rapid progress in distributing the allocated USD 20 million of the Novartis COVID-19 Response Fund, announced mid-March, to impacted countries around the world. The fund aims to support public health initiatives designed to help communities manage the challenges posed by the pandemic, such as programs to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, digital platforms for data collection or dissemination of important public health information, and community health programs. 

“We are managing this process with great efficiency and speed, aiming …

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Novartis announces first European donation of hydroxychloroquine to Switzerland

  • Novartis has committed to making a global donation of up to 130 million doses of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to support efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Sandoz, the generics and biosimilars division of Novartis, today begins delivering the first doses of hydroxychloroquine to the Swiss authorities, who are organizing its distribution to hospitals.
  • Switzerland becomes the first country in Europe, and the second globally after the USA, to receive a donation of this drug.

Rotkreuz, April 3, 2020 – Today, Novartis, …

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Novartis announces plan to initiate clinical study of Jakavi® in severe COVID-19 patients and establish international compassionate use program

  • New clinical trial to evaluate Jakavi® (ruxolitinib) in patients with COVID-19 associated cytokine storm
     
  • Cytokine storm is a type of severe immune overreaction that can result from coronavirus infection and may contribute to respiratory compromise in patients with COVID-191-3

  • Pre-clinical and preliminary clinical evidence suggests Jakavi, a well-established JAK inhibitor, could reduce the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical …
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Novartis announces plan to initiate clinical study of Jakavi® in severe COVID-19 patients and establish international compassionate use program

  • New clinical trial to evaluate Jakavi® (ruxolitinib) in patients with COVID-19 associated cytokine storm
     
  • Cytokine storm is a type of severe immune overreaction that can result from coronavirus infection and may contribute to respiratory compromise in patients with COVID-191-3

  • Pre-clinical and preliminary clinical evidence suggests Jakavi, a well-established JAK inhibitor, could reduce the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical …
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Novartis announces mutual agreement to terminate sale of Sandoz US generic oral solids, dermatology portfolio to Aurobindo

Basel, April 2, 2020 – Novartis today announced the mutual agreement with Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. to terminate the agreement to sell the Sandoz US generic oral solids and dermatology businesses to Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. This decision was taken as approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for the transaction was not obtained within anticipated timelines.

Sandoz will continue to operate its oral solids and dermatology business as part of the Sandoz US business.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements …

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Novartis new analysis further shows durable and potent LDL-C reduction with inclisiran, an investigational first-in-class siRNA cholesterol-lowering treatment

  • Prespecified analysis of pooled data from ORION-9, -10 and -11 Phase III clinical trials shows inclisiran reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 51% at 17 months1
     
  • Prespecified exploratory analysis based on safety reporting from the three trials, showed fewer major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with inclisiran compared to placebo1
     
  • The data are consistent with LDL-C lowering as a strong surrogate for improved patient cardiovascular outcomes2 and …
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Novartis Cosentyx® gains positive CHMP opinion for new indication in the axial spondyloarthritis spectrum

  • EMA CHMP positive opinion in non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) paves way for fourth indication in Europe, and is based on Phase III PREVENT data1
     
  • If approved, Cosentyx would become the first fully-human IL-17A inhibitor indicated for patients in Europe with nr-axSpA
     
  • There are approximately 1.7 million patients with nr-axSpA in the top five EU countries and US, which forms part of the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) disease spectrum2
     
  • Cosentyx is …
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AveXis receives positive CHMP opinion for Zolgensma®, the only gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

  • Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec), a one-time administered gene therapy, has been recommended for European Commission (EC) conditional approval for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and a clinical diagnosis of Type 1 or SMA patients with up to three copies of the SMN2 gene
     
  • Zolgensma has demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful therapeutic benefit in presymptomatic and symptomatic SMA, including prolonged event-free survival and achievement of motor milestones unseen in natural history of the disease and to date …
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Visualizing molecular glues

Every cell in the human body is packed with proteins. These large molecules float around, bump into one another and make the stuff of life happen. They turn fuel into energy. They dispose of trash. They read genetic codes and coax cells to divide.

In some cells, naturally occurring “molecular glues” float among these proteins. Like crafty matchmakers, these small molecules stick proteins together. By doing so, they may change a cell’s destiny.

Drug hunters at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) think these tiny matchmakers also have the potential to change …

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