Novartis contrasts Entresto, Cosentyx uptake

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) reported 4Q15 and full-year financial results and provided an update on the recent launches of two drugs it expects could become the pharma's biggest assets, heart failure drug Entresto sacubitril/valsartan and psoriasis drug Cosentyx secukinumab.

The pharma said 4Q15 Entresto sales were $5 million. On a conference call Wednesday, Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals David Epstein said Entresto had "performed more modestly than even we had anticipated." He said Novartis expects U.S. Entresto sales to "remain modest" this half before picking up in 2H16. ...