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ARTICLE | Clinical News

Novartis’ asthma failure weighs on Gossamer’s shares ahead of readout

December 16, 2019 8:39 PM UTC
Updated on Dec 16, 2019 at 9:53 PM UTC

The latest failure of asthma therapy fevipiprant from Novartis in two Phase III studies dimmed hopes for Gossamer’s lead program, which aims for the same target.

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) said Monday that pooled results from the Phase III LUSTER-1 and LUSTER-2 trials do not support fevipiprant’s ongoing development in asthma. Fevipiprant, an antagonist of PTGDR2 receptor, did not reach a clinically relevant threshold for reducing exacerbation rates in asthma patients; the studies enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe disease and high levels of eosinophils...