Novartis Presents New Data on 21 Medicines and 11 Investigational Compounds at ASCO and EHA

Novartis will highlight the strength of its expanded oncology portfolio in 21 medicines and 11 investigational compounds across more than 185 data presentations at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, 29 May–2 June, and the Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), 11–14 June. Data will demonstrate advances in research in a variety of cancer types, including melanoma, lung, breast, kidney and blood cancers, underscoring Novartis' leadership in developing treatments with the potential to improve and possibly extend the lives of people with solid and hematologic tumours.

"Novartis is proud to showcase our portfolio of medicines, enhanced by the acquisition of oncology products and related assets from GSK," said Bruno Strigini, President of Novartis Oncology. "In addition to new data across many disease areas, we look forward to presenting the overall survival data for the combination regimen of two of the assets we acquired — Tafinlar and Mekinist — as these targeted therapies play a critical role for certain patients fighting metastatic melanoma. These medicines — plus the many others highlighted at ASCO and EHA — exemplify our mission to transform cancer care."

Key data presentations show potential benefit of identifying tumour-specific biomarkers and combination treatment strategies:

• Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist® (trametinib): Full COMBI-d overall survival data in metastatic BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive cutaneous melanoma (ASCO Abstract #102; 31 May, 9:45 AM CDT), and interim results of a Phase II study of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib in combination with the MEK inhibitor trametinib in patients with BRAF V600E mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (ASCO Abstract #8006; 31 May, 10:00 AM CDT)

• Zykadia (ceritinib): First presentation of data from Phase II ASCEND-2 and ASCEND-3 efficacy and safety studies in ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (ASCO Abstract #8059; 1 June, 8:00 AM CDT); (ASCO Abstract #8060; June 1, 8:00 AM CDT)

• Afinitor (everolimus): Identification of efficacy biomarkers in a large metastatic renal cell carcinoma cohort through next-generation sequencing; results from RECORD 3 (ASCO Abstract #4509; 2 June, 9:45 AM CDT); biomarker analysis of  BOLERO-1 and BOLERO-3 in HER2+ breast cancer (ASCO Abstract #512; 31 May, 12:18 PM CDT).

"Our significant presence at ASCO demonstrates that Novartis is at the forefront of transforming how cancer is managed and treated, with a commitment to genomic medicine, innovative combinations, as well as the pursuit of scientific partnerships to further advance drug discovery and development," said Alessandro Riva, Global Head, Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs. "Our broad portfolio illustrates how we use scientific insights to 'starve or destroy' cancer cells implicated in a wide range of tumour types."