Novartis shares rise on positive cancer data

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Novartis shares rise on positive cancer data

Shares for Novartis are up on Monday after the Swiss pharma company reported positive trial data for its breast cancer treatment Kisqali.

The report could represent $6 billion, as it implies a 2% to 4% upside on earnings per share and 2% to 3% on net present value, according to analysts from Jefferies.

The consensus on earnings per share is expected to move to 6% from 3%, according to Jefferies.

In a company statement, Novartis said the drug exhibited positive topline results from an interim analysis of NATALEE, a Phase III trial evaluating Kisqali, in a broad population of patients with early breast cancer.

The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended stopping the trial early because the primary endpoint of invasive disease-free survival had been met, according to the statement.

He added that there is a need for new, well-tolerated options that keep patients cancer-free without affecting their quality of life. The NATALEE trial was designed with these unmet needs in mind, and it is extremely encouraging that this study met its primary endpoint.