Novartis: Glivec provides more impressive results

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) receiving 800mg of Glivec are more likely to attain complete cytogenetic response compared to the standard dose of 400mg. If these preliminary results translate into improved survival for CML patients then this will undoubtedly secure further revenue for Novartis [NVS] as physicians switch to high dose Glivec.

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Novartis: Glivec leaves Brits unconvinced

Despite Novartis' chronic myeloid leukemia drug Glivec gaining fast-track approval in Europe, NICE has decided to limit its use in CML patients to the accelerated phase only. The watchdog's reason was the lack of cost-effective data, showing that pharma companies need to ensure their clinical trials highlight this factor convincingly.

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Novartis: Glivec en route to blockbuster status

According to recent research, newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia are nine times more likely to achieve a complete cytogenetic response when treated with Novartis' [NVS] Glivec than when treated with traditional combination therapy. The continued positive results mean that Glivec looks set to become a blockbuster.

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Novartis: GIST falls under Gleevec's spell

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Novartis: bisphosphonate study should boost Zometa sales

A meta-analysis of bisphosphonate studies found that the drugs can lower skeletal morbidity in patients with metastatic disease. With Novartis' [NVS] Zometa recently gaining a sNDA for patients with bone metastases from advanced malignancies and this class of adjunct therapy becoming increasingly used, Zometa should be blockbuster by the end of 2003.

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Novartis: Afinitor advances in breast cancer trials

Novartis has announced plans to initiate a Phase III trial of Afinitor in HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients following positive results in two Phase I trials. However, Tykerb's first-to-market status may hinder Afinitor's market penetration even if the latter receives approval in this indication.

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Novartis: a small setback for Gleevec

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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Spanish treatment cheaper than US

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NICE: failure to recommend Erbitux adds more fuel to fire against institute

The latest rejection of a new cancer therapy by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence coincides with a report stating that uptake of new cancer drugs in the UK lags well behind that in the US. With the institute facing increasing criticism, the process of reviewing drugs will need to change in order to ensure that cancer patients in the UK are not missing out unnecessarily.

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Myriad Genetics: an unusually successful collaborator

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