Novartis, aiming to protect blockbuster sales, advances Xolair follow-up to phase 3

With blockbuster Xolair aging, Novartis is looking to usher in a follow-up drug to keep that franchise growing, and it got one step closer this week. Armed with Xolair-topping phase 2 data, the Swiss drugmaker will push hives treatment candidate ligelizumab into phase 3.