Saturday, June 05, 2010

Safety fears hang over pioneering Novartis MS pill | Reuters

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's (NOVN.VX) race to get the first multiple sclerosis pill to market reaches a pivotal point next week when U.S. experts vote on whether Gilenia should be recommended for approval.

A green light is far from assured. Although the new drug has outperformed current injectable medicines in trials, it is associated with a range of potentially serious side effects that could limit its use or block it from the market altogether.

Industry analysts at Citigroup think the safety issues on Gilenia are a "50/50 call" and the market generally is cautious, suggesting scope for significant share price moves depending on the outcome of the June 10 advisory meeting.

Posted via web from Jack's posterous

No comments: