aliskiren

Novartis had once hoped aliskiren would be a key driver of sales growth, but the company this week said the drug, which had sales of $449 million in the first nine months of the year, is likely to be "negatively impacted" by the poor trial results.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

Earlier this week, Novartis said it was stopping a large clinical trial of aliskiren on the advice of an independent safety monitoring board, which identified higher rates of nonfatal stroke, renal complications and other problems in patients taking aliskiren.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

The trial had been testing aliskiren in 8,600 patients with type 2 diabetes and poor kidney function, who because of their conditions are "known to be at a high risk of cardiovascular and renal" problems, Novartis said.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

Patients in the study were given either aliskiren or a placebo pill in addition to the blood-pressure medication they were already taking—either an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

Novartis said it will stop promoting aliskiren for use in combination with ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers until regulators decide whether the drug's marketing license needs to be changed.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

Europe's main drug regulator said it was starting a review of the Novartis AG hypertension pill aliskiren after a large clinical trial linked the drug to possible risks of nonfatal stroke and kidney problems.

Novartis Drug Goes Under Safety Review Jeanne Whalen 2011

Novartis said that the revamp plan has been accelerated after a recent clinical study flagged potential safety problems with aliskiren, prompting the company to cease promotion for the product for some patients.

Novartis to Cut 1,960 U.S. Jobs Neil MacLucas 2012

ZURICH— Novartis AG Friday said it will cut 1,960 jobs as it restructures its U.S. business, reflecting the patent loss of heart drug Diovan in the U.S. and the recent failure to turn high blood pressure medicine aliskiren into a blockbuster.

Novartis to Cut 1,960 U.S. Jobs Neil MacLucas 2012

A charge of $160 million will be booked in the first quarter, while the lower sales potential of aliskiren will lead to a fourth-quarter charge of $900 million, it said in a statement Friday.

Novartis to Cut 1,960 U.S. Jobs Neil MacLucas 2012

Europe's main drug regulator is starting a review of the Novartis hypertension pill aliskiren after a large clinical trial linked the drug to possible risks of nonfatal stroke and kidney problems.

What's News— 2011