Novartis AG

BASEL, Switzerland - Not for US Media - New Ilaris Data in The New England Journal of Medicine Show Rapid Sustained Efficacy in Patients With Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS)(1) - CAPS is a Debilitating Genetic Disorder With Potentially Fatal Complications and Limited Treatments Available(1),(2),(3) - Ilaris Selectively Blocks Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a Key Driver in Inflammation and Tissue Destruction - Therapy Being Investigated for Other Inflammatory Diseases(1),(3),(4) - Regulatory Submissions Completed in Major Countries With Priority Review Granted in US, Switzerland and Australia New results from a one-year Phase III study have confirmed that the investigational biological therapy Ilaris(R) (canakinumab, formerly ACZ885)[*] produced rapid and sustained remission of symptoms in the majority of children and adults with a rare and potentially life-threatening auto-inflammatory disease called cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS)(1),(2),(3).

BASEL, Switzerland - **This press release is not intended for the UK media** - Once daily QAB149 (indacaterol) significantly improves lung function compared to formoterol and tiotropium, two currently approved COPD treatments, at three months of treatment[1,2] - Pending approval, QAB149 could be the first once-daily bronchodilator to combine clinically relevant 24-hour bronchodilation with onset of action within five minutes[3,4,5] - All doses of QAB149 are well-tolerated with a good overall safety profile in three pivotal trials: INVOLVE (1 year), INHANCE (6 months) and INLIGHT-1 (3 months)[4,5,6] - COPD, a debilitating and progressive respiratory disease, is a leading and growing cause of death that affects 210 million people worldwide[7] BASEL, Switzerland, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Initial results from three pivotal phase III trials show the Novartis investigational bronchodilator QAB149 (indacaterol) could deliver clinically relevant[*] lung function improvements, within five minutes of the first dose, lasting for 24 hours in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)[3,4,5].