Promacta and Jakavi May Boost Novartis’s Oncology Segment Revenues
Jakavi reported sales of $228.0 million in 4Q17, which is a year-over-year rise of 33.0% on a constant currency basis.
Feb. 20 2018, Updated 9:02 a.m. ET
Promacta and Jakavi: Revenue trends
Novartis’s (NVS) Promacta reported sales if $255 million in 4Q17, which is a year-over-year (or YoY) rise of 43.0% on a constant currency basis. On January 4, 2018, Novartis announced that the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to the combination of Promacta and immunosuppressive therapy.
This combination is a treatment option for treatment-naïve severe aplastic anemia patients. Promacta was originally developed by Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It was acquired by Novartis as part of its three-part transaction with GlaxoSmithKline in 2015.
To learn more about Promacta’s approved indications, please read Promacta: A Major Growth Driver for Ligand Pharmaceuticals in 2017. The chart below gives a snapshot of Novartis’s approved oncology therapies.
Jakavi reported sales of $228.0 million in 4Q17, which is a year-over-year (or YoY) rise of 33.0% on a constant currency basis. This JAK1/2 inhibitor is also being studied in a Phase 3 trial in acute/chronic graft versus host disease (or GVHD) indication. To learn more about Jakavi/Jakafi, please read How Incyte’s Jakafi Performed in 1Q17.
Tafinlar + Mekinist combination therapy
Tafinlar + Mekinist combination therapy reported sales of $246.0 million in 4Q17, which is a YoY rise of 33% on a constant currency basis. This increase was driven primarily by the rapid uptake in the US and by the launch of the therapy in multiple European markets.
In January 2014, while still in GlaxoSmithKline’s oncology portfolio, this secured FDA approval for patients with unresectable melanoma or metastatic melanoma indication with V600K or BRAF V600E genetic mutations.
On October 23, 2017, this combination secured breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA as adjuvant therapy for patients with BRAF V600 positive stage III melanoma that has been already resected completely.
On June 22, 2017, the FDA approved Tafinlar + Mekinist combination therapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with BRAF V600E mutation indication. These approvals have enabled Novartis to compete effectively with other oncology players such as Merck (MRK) and AstraZeneca.
In the next article, we’ll discuss Novartis’ acquisition of Advanced Accelerator Applications and investigational sickle cell disease therapy.
