How Did Novartis’s Innovative Medicines Segment Perform?

Novartis’s (NVS) innovative medicines segment consists of products for therapeutic areas including oncology, cardio-metabolic, immunology, dermatology, retina, respiratory, neuroscience, and established medicines. The overall contribution of the innovative medicines segment was ~67% at $8,173 million for 3Q16.

The innovative medicines segment includes two business units from Novartis: Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Oncology.

Growth products including Gilenya, Tasigna, Galvus, a combination of Mekinist and Tafinlar, Promacta and Revolade, Jakavi, Entresto, and Cosentyx, reported a 21% increase in revenues at constant currencies to $3.8 billion for 3Q16, nearly 46% of total segment sales for the quarter.

Gilenya is an oral therapy for multiple sclerosis. Due to the increased demand, revenues rose 15% at constant exchange rates to $790 million in 3Q16 as compared to 3Q15. Gilenya reported double-digit growth in most markets. Gilenya competes with Biogen’s (BIIB) Tecfidera and Sanofi’s (SNY) Aubagio.

Tasigna, a drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, reported a 8% increase in revenues at constant exchange rates to $441 million during 3Q16, following a double-digit growth in global markets, offset by 1% decline in the US markets. Tasigna competes with Pfizer’s (PFE) Bosulif.

The combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist is used in the treatment of BRAF V600+ metastatic melanoma. The combination is approved in over 60 countries for the treatment of unresectable melanoma and 35 countries for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. The combination reported a growth of 29% at constant exchange rates to $172 million during 3Q16.

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