Novartis' serelaxin fails to meet goals of late-stage acute heart failure study

Discussion in 'Novartis' started by anonymous, Mar 22, 2017 at 8:06 AM.

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  1. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Novartis announced Wednesday that a Phase III study of the experimental drug serelaxin in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) failed to meet its primary endpoints of reduction in cardiovascular death through day 180 or reduced worsening heart failure through day five when added to standard therapy. Chief medical officer Vas Narasimhan said the company will "evaluate next steps for the overall programme."

    The RELAX-AHF-2 trial, which started in October 2013, included 6600 patients hospitalised for AHF and was designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of serelaxin, also known as RLX030, when added to standard of care. Narasimhan said Novartis "will continue to further analyse the data to better understand and learn from these results."

    Serelaxin, a relaxin receptor agonist, is a recombinant form of the naturally-occurring human relaxin-2 hormone, with analysts estimating that the drug could have generated sales of $359 million by 2020. However, serelaxin was rejected by the FDA and European regulators in 2014, with both asking for further evidence of the therapy's ability to prevent heart disease from worsening as part of a treatment programme.

    Commenting on the latest news, analysts suggested that the failure of serelaxin will increase pressure on Novartis to boost sales of its heart failure treatment Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan), which have so far fallen below expectations. Sales of Entresto, which was approved in the US and Europe in 2015, reached $170 million last year, missing the company's target of $200 million. "The failure of serelaxin will refocus the importance of Entresto to meet consensus long-term sales expectations as well as the importance for management to bolster its pipeline," noted Deutsche Bank analyst Tim Race.
     

  2. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    bye Felicia.

    If you find another opportunity for a hospital rep position, I would start interviewing.
     
  3. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    On the teleconference with Alisha right now.

    Historically, Novartis tries to minimize layoffs, but ultimately it eventually comes later down the line. When our executives go in front of the investors, they'll have to convince them to continue with our most expensive investment. Our people.

    If they're not moving Entresto in the hospital, then at the very least there will be a change in their responsibilities. Which means moving them into the office based space. What does that mean? Too many Novartis reps calling on our offices.
     
  4. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I agree. I think when they start weighing the cost of our people, they will see someone will need to be let go, it may not be the HAS team, but it will be somebody. As it is, we still have PDI, which they may just not renew the contract. If that happens, HAS is definitely going back in the offices. What a mess that will be.
     
  5. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    HAS are the highest paid for lowest return on investment. Will either be office based or gone I'm guessing.
     
  6. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    I agree whole heartedly. It will be like the old Novartis, with a few less in the pod. I imagine PDI and CV2 will go exclusively primary care, and 2 partners in Cardiology/other specialty only, which will be CV1 and HAS. I can only hope for this, otherwise, 3 in cardiology will never work. Especially with the new person they hired for our area. He has successfully annoyed 2 of our big cardiologists.
     
  7. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    You know little about the hospital space and what value our division brings to the organization. You wouldn't know this because you've spent your entire career chasing useless metrics, and fudging call averages. What we are starting to see are systems developing protocols and care pathways, including Entresto in a preferred position. Patients started in the hospital,.discharged with a voucher, patient remains more compliant, and better feedback to the provider, more patients started. Or.. patient discharged, with the intention of starting during follow up. Guess what, it doesn't happen. I'll take the former vs latter scenario. That said, It takes time, patience and skill. Again, if you haven't done it, you can't speak eloquently on the topic, which is very apparent by your comment. Regarding the HAS value. I'd argue the opposite. We are BY FAR the most valuable division in the CV franchise. We are paid more, quite frankly because we have a more advanced skill set. Every company, Novartis included, pays a premium for it. Look at the more skilled CSS' in your division with true account management experience. Their base is well in the 120-40 range. And they deserve it, because they have a lot of skill. My overlaps included. So back to the protocol and care pathway comment. The problem is, this primary care driven company has a rudimentary understanding of the hospital space, and all that goes in to developing change. When that change happens, it equals a big contribution to the company's bottom line. So while you're placing 20 "calls" on your tier 1 targets, and fighting for scraps, we're building momentum to help Entresto grow. That's reality. Good luck to you, and hope you do well. We all have a family and overhead to support..
     
  8. anonymous

    anonymous Guest


    Very well thought out statement. Not to mention the all of the work that has been done at the clinics affiliated with my hospitals, and patients being switched to Entresto, per the guidelines. Ask my css' how they did with their bonus?? Made bank based on scripts from my efforts and from docs they've never seen
     
  9. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    How many layoffs will come as a result of this? Must be in the 1000s.

    And which upper management's head(s) will roll?

    This ain't going to be pretty.
     
  10. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    LOL what a deluded moron. This is why the drug is failing, 'academic theory' from a self ascribed detached elitist. Is this obama selling obamacare again ??????? Fucking maroon. ;)
     
  11. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    No one said the drug is failing, dummy. We will be profitable by mid 2017.. I guess I am another deluded moron that lives in the hospital space while you fudge call averages and spew your ridiculous political rhetoric.. nice try, Junior..
     
  12. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    This disqualifies you completely from posting again on this matter. Please refrain.
    Ignoramus's are not allowed to embarrass themselves further.

    It's as if you can't figure out basic patent expiration math & what a wasted opportunity 3 years represents & for the record , this is after all diovan with mystery meat. Your shallow hospital based schmoozing won't change that & already represents & epic failure & a tremendous waste of time & $$$ aka resources. :rolleyes:
     
  13. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    The drug is failing. There now someone said it.
     
  14. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    Said the former, disgruntled, Novartis trolling Diovan rep...
     
  15. anonymous

    anonymous Guest

    This poster smells of an angry, insecure, contract sales, former fraternity boy who had sand kicked in his grill.. what a douche That mystery meat is making a whole lot of patients feel pretty well, there chief