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Novartis’s Triple Clinical Setback Hits Shares and Weighs on Pharma Peers

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Novartis shares fell about 13% over the week after three major pipeline setbacks, including a record roughly 10.9% one-day decline that erased about CHF 26 billion in market value. Pelacarsen, a closely watched cardiovascular drug for patients with high lipoprotein(a), failed to show a reduction in heart attack and stroke risk in a large late-stage trial. Analysts had projected potential peak annual sales of $3 billion–$6 billion. Del-desiran, acquired through Novartis’s $12 billion purchase of Avidity Biosciences, missed the primary endpoint in the Phase III HARBOR study in myotonic dystrophy type 1; it did not significantly improve hand-opening time versus placebo. A third setback involved rap-cel: Novartis paused eight studies of the cell therapy after three patient deaths. The fallout extended to the sector. The European healthcare index fell around 2.3%, while analysts said pelacarsen’s failure raised doubts for other companies targeting Lp(a), including Eli Lilly and Am...

FDA delays decision on Exelixis colorectal-cancer drug to March 2027

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Lonza and CordenPharma expand US and injectable manufacturing capacity

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Yarrow raises $150M

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Disc challenges in polycythemia vera, but Silence retains the lead

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Major Novartis shareholder calls for board shake-up after trial setbacks

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Disc Medicine reports promising early PV data

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Major Novartis shareholder calls for board shake-up after trial setbacks

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FDA Places Partial Hold on Biohaven’s Epilepsy Drug After $350 Million Licensing Deal

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FDA expands Bayer’s Hyrnuo into first-line HER2-mutant lung cancer

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FDA signals flexibility on psychedelic drug review while keeping evidence standards

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FDA makes acting CBER and CDER leaders permanent

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Encoded closes $275M Series F to advance Dravet syndrome drug ETX101

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