Novartis to Launch New Trials for Sluggish Entresto

May 20, 2016

Novartis has announced "the largest global clinical program" for heart failure as it subjects recently-approved Entresto to a battery of new trials.

FDA-approved in July 2015, Entresto has faced concerns from doctors over switching patients to the drug when they are stable on older medicines, leading to disappointing sales. Novartis now expects $200 million in 2016 sales -- well behind initial forecasts.

The new program, called "Fortifying Heart Failure Clinical Evidence and Patient Quality of Life" or "FortiHFy", will include 40-plus trials in 50 countries over five years. Trials are also aimed at expanding Entresto's treatment label to additional kinds of heart failure and for patients after a heart attack.

Read the Reuters article