Novartis says FTY720 trial continues despite death
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:06 pm
Novartis says FTY720 trial continues despite death
By Sam Cage
ZURICH, June 5 (Reuters) - Novartis AG (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) said two patients taking its multiple sclerosis drug FTY720 in clinical trials had problems with infections and one died, but the role of the medicine in the cases was unclear.
Independent experts recommended that clinical trials with the drug -- which unusually for an MS medicine is taken orally -- should continue as planned, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday.
"Novartis was recently notified of two infection-related incidents among FTY720 patients, including one fatality," the company said in a statement.
Novartis shares closed 0.7 percent lower at 54.45 Swiss francs on Thursday, with traders citing rumours that FTY720 trials had been stopped on safety concerns. The Novartis statement was released after the Zurich bourse closed.
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyN ... 2720080605
By Sam Cage
ZURICH, June 5 (Reuters) - Novartis AG (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) said two patients taking its multiple sclerosis drug FTY720 in clinical trials had problems with infections and one died, but the role of the medicine in the cases was unclear.
Independent experts recommended that clinical trials with the drug -- which unusually for an MS medicine is taken orally -- should continue as planned, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday.
"Novartis was recently notified of two infection-related incidents among FTY720 patients, including one fatality," the company said in a statement.
Novartis shares closed 0.7 percent lower at 54.45 Swiss francs on Thursday, with traders citing rumours that FTY720 trials had been stopped on safety concerns. The Novartis statement was released after the Zurich bourse closed.
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyN ... 2720080605