Sugar Wars contd. - Novartis: Galvus delay gives Mercks Januvia a head start

PoorNovartis.

The FDA has delayed their review of the experimental diabetes pill Galvus by three months after the Swiss drugmaker submitted additional research on the drug.

The new data submitted "support the proposed dosing regimen and indications'' being reviewed, Basel, Switzerland- based Novartis said in an e-mailed statement. Novartis asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve Galvus last January.

The delay puts Novartis further behind Merck in a race to introduce a new class of diabetes drugs. Merck's rival drug Januvia won FDA approval in October, while Novartis said today Galvus's review will be extended until the end of February.

Bloomberg