Novartis Faces Future Patent Cliffs Despite Optimism for Remibrutinib
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan expressed strong confidence in the experimental MS drug remibrutinib, projecting peak annual sales exceeding $4 billion. However, analysts at Barclays have already lowered their sales forecasts following late-stage clinical trial results that showed lower efficacy in reducing relapses for multiple sclerosis patients than previously anticipated. While Novartis is successfully navigating its current patent expirations, including the blockbuster heart drug Entresto, a significant revenue gap looms on the horizon. Analysts warn that the upcoming patent expirations for Kisqali and Kesimpta around 2032 could represent an $18 billion loss in peak sales. The company's ability to offset this through new launches like remibrutinib remains a critical focus for investors.
Topics: clinical trial results drug development earnings report patent cliff sales forecast