Novartis To Present Oncology Data At ASH 2014

Novartis announced that it will present the latest data on its oncology, hematology, and cell and gene therapy research pipeline at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

The company will present over 250 abstracts in blood and breast cancer research at the scientific meetings. Among these are the company’s chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies being developed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine (Penn). These include the CAR therapy CTL019 which is currently undergoing Phase 2 trial in relapsed or refractory CD19+ lymphoma, as well as a mid-stage dose optimization study in relapsed, refractory CLL.

Novartis will also present data for Afinitor (everolimus) in HR+ and HER2+ advanced or metastatic breast cancer. These will include results from the non-interventional trial BRAWO as well as the late-stage placebo-controlled BOLERO-1 trial of everolimus with trastuzumab and paclitaxel as front-line therapy in women with HER2+ advanced breast cancer.

Alessandro Riva, Global Head of Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs, said, “At ASH and SABCS, we'll share long-term safety and efficacy data on several targeted therapies and present findings on novel treatment approaches including pipeline combinations and personalized cell therapy.” He added that the company looks forward to more progress in developing cancer drugs thanks to its robust oncology treatment pipeline.

For its hematology pipeline, the company will present safety and efficacy data of nilotinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia, as well as data for ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis. Other presentations will cover results from studies investigating hematological drugs Jakavi, Tasigna, and Exjade. Earlier in December Novartis announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the review period of hematological treatment panobinostat as combination therapy for previously treated multiple myeloma.

Aside from ASH, the company will be presenting the study data at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) also taking place this month.