Japanese Ministry of Health approves Rasilez®, a first-in-class direct renin inhibitor (DRI), for the treatment of high blood pressure

8 juli 2009Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- * Rasilez provides significant blood pressure reductions that last for 24 hours [1],[2], when taken alone or in combination with other antihypertensives[3-6] * An estimated 40 million people in Japan, nearly a third of the population, have high blood pressure[7], 70% of whom are not achieving treatment goals[8] * Rasilez's potential long-term benefits are being further investigated as part of ASPIRE HIGHER - the largest ongoing cardio-renal outcomes program Basel, July 8, 2009 - Rasilez® (aliskiren), the first new type of high blood pressure medicine in more than a decade, has been approved for use in Japan. Rasilez directly inhibits renin[9], an enzyme that triggers a process leading to high blood pressure and organ damage. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan approved Rasilez for the treatment of high blood pressure alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medicines. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death worldwide[10]. In Japan an estimated 40 million people, nearly a third of the population, are affected by high blood pressure[7] with the majority of patients not reaching their blood pressure treatment goal[8]. "In Japan, nearly 70% of patients are not reaching their blood pressure goal, demonstrating a strong need for therapies with a new mechanism of action," said Professor Toshiro Fujita, Chief of the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, University of Tokyo. "It is expected that Rasilez's unique mechanism of action will provide significant blood pressure reductions that last for 24 hours." It is estimated that nearly one billion people globally have high blood pressure[11] and many of these remain either untreated or treated but not reaching their target[11]. Patients are therefore at risk of complications including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and death, creating an unmet need for new high blood pressure therapies[11]. Rasilez, known as Tekturna® in the US[*], works by directly inhibiting renin to reduce the effects caused by an over-active renin system[9]. By inhibiting renin at the point of activation, Rasilez provides significant blood pressure reductions alone or in combination with other antihypertensives[3-6]. The potential long-term benefits of Rasilez are currently being investigated further in the landmark ASPIRE HIGHER program, the largest ongoing cardio-renal outcomes program worldwide, involving more than 35,000 patients in 14 trials. "We are very excited about the approval in Japan, which provides Japanese patients access to this innovative high blood pressure treatment that directly targets renin," said Trevor Mundel, MD, Global Head of Development at Novartis Pharma AG. "Novartis is committed to supporting the research and development of effective and innovative treatments for patients suffering high blood pressure." Rasilez is approved in over 70 countries. Tekturna was approved in the US in March 2007 and in the European Union in August 2007 under the trade name Rasilez. Tekturna HCT, the first single-pill combination involving Tekturna, was approved in the US in January 2008. The single-pill combination Rasilez HCT was approved by the European Commission in January 2009. Novartis is focused on improving the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. As a global leader in cardiovascular and metabolic health for nearly 50 years, Novartis provides innovative therapies and support programs to treat high blood pressure and diabetes - both major public health issues. The portfolio includes the world's most-prescribed angiotensin receptor blocker, the first and only approved direct renin inhibitor, a single pill combining two leading high blood pressure medicines, and a DPP-4 inhibitor. Disclaimer The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "estimated," "potential," "expected," "will," "committed," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for Rasilez/Tekturna or regarding potential future revenues from Rasilez/Tekturna. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Rasilez/Tekturna to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Rasilez/Tekturna will be approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market. Nor can there be any guarantee that Rasilez/Tekturna will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Rasilez/Tekturna could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2008, the Group's continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5 billion and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. [*] Rasilez® is the trade name for aliskiren throughout the world, except in the US where it is known as Tekturna®. References [1] Oh BH, et al. Aliskiren, an Oral Renin Inhibitor, Provides Dose-Dependent Efficacy and Sustained 24-hour Blood Pressure Control in Patients with Hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 49:1157-63. [2] Palatini P, et al. Blood Pressure Reduction Following A Simulated Missed Dose Of Aliskiren, Irbesartan, or Ramipril: A Comparative Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Study. Presentation at American Society of Hypertension 2008. [3] Uresin Y, et al. Aliskiren Monotherapy Lowers Blood Pressure More Effectively than Ramipril Monotherapy in Patients with Diabetes and Grade 2 Hypertension: Subgroup Analysis of an 8-week, Double-Blind Trial. J Hypertens 2008: 26 (Suppl 1): S479 PS33/THU/62. [4] Oparil S, Yarows SA, Patel S, Fang H, Zhang J, Satlin A. Efficacy and Safety of Combined use of Aliskiren and Valsartan in Patients with Hypertension: A Randomised, Double-Blind Trial. Lancet 2007; 370:221-29. [5] Drummond W, et al. Antihypertensive Efficacy of the Oral Direct Renin Inhibitor Aliskiren as Add-on Therapy in Patients not Responding to Amlodipine Monotherapy. J Clin Hypertens 2007;9:742-50. [6] Gradman A, et al. Aliskiren in Combination with Hydrochlorothiazide is Effective and well Tolerated during Long-Term Treatment of Hypertension. Presentation at the American Society of Hypertension 2007. [7] National Health and Nutrition Survey Report Japan, 2006. [8] Fujita T et al. Current situation and issue on medication for hypertension and hyperlipidemia: Progress Medicine 26: 2297-2306,2006. [9] Tekturna® (aliskiren) Prescribing Information. Available at: www.tekturna.com. [10] World Health Organization. Cardiovascular disease factsheet. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/index.html. Last accessed April 2009. [11] Chobanian AV et al. Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure. Hypertension 2003;42:1206-51. # # # Novartis Media Relations Central media line : +41 61 324 2200 Eric Althoff Yanyan Chang Novartis Global Media Relations Novartis Division Communications +41 61 324 7999 (direct) + 41 61 324 2339 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) + 41 79 292 0959 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com yanyan.chang@novartis.com e-mail: media.relations@novartis.com Novartis Investor Relations Central phone: +41 61 324 7944 Ruth Metzler-Arnold +41 61 324 North America: 9980 Pierre-Michel +41 61 324 Richard Jarvis +1 212 830 Bringer 1065 2433 John Gilardi +41 61 324 Jill Pozarek +1 212 830 3018 2445 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 Edwin Valeriano +1 212 830 8425 2456 Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 e-mail: e-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com investor.relations@novartis.com --- End of Message --- Novartis International AG Posfach Basel WKN: 904278; ISIN: CH0012005267; Index: SLCI, SMI, SPI, SLIFE; Listed: Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange, ZLS in BX Berne eXchange;