Novartis’s canakinumab cancer test approaches

Novartis’s anti-IL-1 beta antibody canakinumab has already flopped in cardiovascular disease. Soon the company will find out whether its pivot to cancer has paid off, or whether it has thrown good money after bad.

Novartis spent nearly $1.5bn on its efforts in cardiovascular disease, and its cancer bet will amount to much less, according to Evaluate Omnium. Development in non-small-cell lung cancer, the oncology indication in which cana is most advanced, is estimated to come in at a much more manageable $360m.