[Ip-health] UPDATE 2-Novartis talks up promising cancer portfolio

[Joana Ramos]

http://tinyurl.com/yegyhgh


UPDATE 2-Novartis talks up promising cancer portfolio

mi=E9rcoles 9 de diciembre de 2009 10:16

* Drugmakers aim to boost high-margin cancer drugs

* Novartis to file Tasigna for first-line leukaemia in Dec.

* Sees combined Tasigna, Glivec sales beating $5 billion

* Sees three more filings in 2009, including MS drug FTY720

* Shares near flat

(Adds detail on cancer drugs, market and analyst reaction)

By Sam Cage

ZURICH, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Novartis AG (NOVN.VX: Cotizaci=F3n) expects to
file for two new approvals of cancer drugs, including big hope Tasigna,
by the end of the month and has several more on the way to further boost
its lucrative portfolio.

Drugmakers are keen to expand their offering of high-margin cancer
drugs, which are less vulnerable to competition than other franchises
and tend to command higher prices, and Novartis has several new products
on their way through development.

The drugmaker is relying on Tasigna -- which it is set to file for
approval as a first-line leukaemia treatment -- to make up for any lost
sales of Glivec, its second best-selling medicine, which will lose
patent protection over the next few years.

"I think the two drugs can beat $5 billion in combined sales," Novartis
oncology head David Epstein told Reuters ahead of an investor event on
Wednesday.

"Tasigna is keeping people in early stage of the disease and these are
the people who are likely to survive longer."

Epstein said Novartis had overtaken Amgen (AMGN.O: Cotizaci=F3n) as the
world's second-biggest maker of cancer drugs, but still trailed local
Swiss rival Roche (ROG.VX: Cotizaci=F3n).

Investors were underwhelmed by Novartis's upbeat statement and shares
were down 0.4 percent to 56.45 Swiss francs by 0855 GMT, in line with
the DJ Stoxx European healthcare index.......




-----------------
Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
Seattle WA USA
+1-206-229-2420
http://ramoslink.info/
www.bmtbasics.org