Early positive results for Novartis breast cancer drug
Early positive results for Novartis breast cancer drug
18 May 2016A clinical trial testing an experimental breast cancer pill from Novartis has been stopped early because of good results, boosting the Swiss company's efforts to build up its oncology business.
Early halt in clinical trial due to positive results
Novartis announced that testing of LEE011 in combination with letrozole in the late-stage study had been halted early after it met its goal of significantly extending the time patients lived without their disease progressing. Novartis said it would now initiate discussions with regulatory authorities worldwide about seeking approval for LEE011
LEE011, or ribociclib, belongs to the same drug class as Pfizer's Ibrance. The Novartis product now looks set to be second to market in the category, ahead of Eli Lilly's abemaciclib, according to Berenberg Bank analysts. A key question that remains to be answered is the relative efficacy of LEE011 compared to Ibrance. Novartis said full results of its LEE011 study would be presented at an upcoming medical congress.
Source: Reuters