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Novartis’s Fevipiprant Hit By Phase III Asthma Failure

ZEAL Studies Miss Efficacy In Moderate Disease

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Novartis’s investigational oral therapy for asthma fell at the first Phase III hurdle but pivotal studies in severe disease will be key to prospects.

Failed launch
Novartis's fevipiprant fails to fly in moderate asthma

Novartis AG’s asthma hopes have been dented somewhat by a Phase III miss for its small molecule candidate QAW039 (fevipiprant). In a note buried in its third-quarter results announcement, the group revealed that the oral product had failed to reach the primary efficacy endpoint of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) improvement in two Phase III trials in patients with moderate asthma. The safety profile was, however, clean.

The negative result means the weight of expectation increases for another pair of Phase III studies, LUSTER 1 and 2, which are due to read out in the first quarter...

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