Novartis stock jumps on cancer trial success
TBE/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Novartis (NYSE:NVS) shares surged 6% premarket on Monday after the pharmaceutical firm reported positive topline results from its highly awaited Natalee breast cancer trial.
- Natalee is a global Phase III multi-center, randomized, open-label trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Novartis's Kisqali breast cancer drug with endocrine therapy (ET) as adjuvant treatment versus ET alone in patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer.
- Being conducted in collaboration with Translational Research In Oncology, the trial found that Kisqali significantly reduced the risk of disease recurrence when used with standard endocrine therapy compared to endocrine therapy alone.
- "The positive topline results from NATALEE represent a major milestone in our ambition to expand the benefits of Kisqali to patients with earlier stages of breast cancer, building on the heritage of this effective treatment in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer," said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President, Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis.
- Trial results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and submitted to regulatory authorities worldwide. A committee of independent supervisors recommended stopping the trial early as the primary endpoint of invasive disease-free survival has been met.
- The positive topline outcome is being perceived as a potentially significant opportunity for the Swiss drugmaker, with analysts expecting consensus upgrades ahead.