Novartis expects to sustain long-term growth with a robust pipeline of 25+ potential blockbusters highlighted at R&D Day

• Uniquely positioned with global scale, focus on innovative medicines, diversification across therapeutic areas and exposure to cutting-edge platforms
• 60 projects in Phase 2 pipeline with 10+ advancing into Phase 3 or pivotal trials each year in 2020 and 2021; over 90% projected to be first-in-class or first-in-indication
• Emerging assets address areas of high unmet need including iscalimab in transplant and Sjögren’s syndrome, LNP023 in renal diseases and PNH, MBG453 in MDS, and TQJ230 in cardiovascular risk reduction
• Expected near-term launches include ofatumumab in relapsing MS, fevipiprant in asthma, radioligand therapy Lu-PSMA-617 in prostate cancer, Adakveo in sickle cell disease and canakinumab in lung cancer
• Exploring over 40 new indications for in-market brands, including up to 7 for Cosentyx alone, and others for Beovu, Piqray and Kisqali, to maximize potential of these medicines

London, December 5, 2019 – Today Novartis holds an investor event in London to provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s progress in advancing its industry-leading R&D pipeline. 

Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, said “Novartis had a year of breakthrough innovation in 2019, with five potential blockbuster NME approvals. The near term brings yet another catalyst-rich period with pipeline progress across the portfolio that can sustain long-term growth. Our operational focus is beginning to show results including accelerating timelines, reducing costs and improving productivity without compromising quality. We look forward to delivering new transformational treatment options to patients and continuing to reimagine medicine to address some of the world’s greatest unmet healthcare needs.”

Key highlights to be presented at R&D Day 2019:

Emerging assets that address significant unmet need are being prioritized and advanced into pivotal trials in the coming years. Iscalimab (CFZ533) is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the CD40 receptor which has the potential to become the standard of care in transplant, and has demonstrated positive proof-of-concept in Sjögren’s syndrome, the second most common rheumatic autoimmune disease after rheumatoid arthritis. Trials are being initiated in six separate indications. LNP023, an oral Factor B inhibitor targeting the alternative complement pathway, is in parallel development for three rare renal diseases and in hematology for first-line paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), with first results anticipated in 2020. In immuno-oncology, MBG453 is a first-in-class anti-TIM-3 mAb which has the potential to become a foundational therapy across myeloid diseases. It is currently advancing in a pivotal Phase 2 program in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with Phase 1 data forthcoming at ASH 2019. TQJ230 is an antisense oligonucleotide providing a potent and consistent reduction of Lp(a), a known and currently untreatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A cardiovascular outcomes trial of over 7,500 patients is planned to start in 2020.