Novartis seeks EU approval for Exforge and Lucentis

Novartis has filed for approval from the EMEA for two new drugs, Lucentis and Exforge.

Exforge is a combination therapy designed to simplify the treatment of high blood pressure and help individuals who are not taking their treatments properly. The medicine includes leading blood-pressure drugs amlodipine and valsartan. US submission will follow later in 2006.

James Shannon, head of development at Novartis, said: “About two-thirds of patients currently take two or more drugs to control their blood pressure. This can be very problematic since the burden of having to take multiple pills is one of the main contributors to poor compliance.”

Novartis’ other submission, Lucentis, treats wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) ? the leading cause of blindness among Western over-60s. Clinical trials have found the drug to improve vision in almost all patients.

“Lucentis is the first agent to improve vision in patients with wet AMD, setting a new efficacy standard for the treatment of patients with this debilitating disease,” said Nicholas Franco, global head of Novartis Ophthalmics.

The drug works by stopping the growth of abnormal blood vessels while preventing leakage under the macula.

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