News from Novartis: Tasigna Beats Gleevec

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Now being reported by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal:

Novartis' Tasigna beats Glivec in 18-mth study

3:52am EDT 06/04/10

ZURICH, June 4 (Reuters) - Swiss drug-maker Novartis (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile,

Research, Stock Buzz) said 18-month results from a study confirmed its Tasigna

cancer drug is more efficient in slowing down chronic myeloid leukaemia (CLM)

than older medicine Glivec.

A previous study had already shown Tasigna exceeded Novartis' Glivec, its

second-biggest selling drug, in disease progression over 12 months.

The latest data comes just ahead of a late-stage study due to be published at a

key cancer meeting this weekend, showing how rival drug Sprycel from

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) compares with

Glivec.

Physicians and investors will look closely at the data to get a sense of how

Tasigna compares with Sprycel as Novartis and Bristol-Myers strive to become the

next first-line treatment for the blood cancer. [iD:nLDE6520CX]

Novartis is relying on Tasigna to replace sales of Glivec as it loses patent

protection over the next few years, while strong results for Sprycel would

bolster Bristol-Myer's oncology franchise.

At 0747 GMT, shares in Novartis were trading 0.7 percent higher, slightly

outperforming a 0.4 percent rise in the European pharmaceuticals sector .

(Reporting by Reid and Jucca; Editing by a Billingham)