Novartis achieves positive MS study results and plans approval

Frankfurt. The Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has achieved positive results in crucial studies with its drug remibrutinib for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The company now plans to apply for worldwide approval for the drug for relapsing-remitting MS, Novartis announced on Tuesday. The company's shares then rose by almost five percent.

However, the positive development was marred by a setback in another area of ​​research: after three deaths, Novartis had to suspend several studies on an experimental cell therapy.

However, investors' focus was on the positive data on remibrutinib. In the two phase III studies, the active ingredient significantly reduced the annual relapse rate of patients compared to the drug Aubagio from the French competitor Sanofi.

In addition, inflammatory brain lesions were reduced and the progression of physical limitations was delayed. Novartis also highlighted the good tolerability of the active ingredient: There was no evidence of liver damage in the studies.