Novartis pharma head resigns

Novartis has reported that the head of its North American pharmaceutical business is to leave this month.

Alex Gorsky will return to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) later this month where he will take up the role of group chairman at J&J subsidiary Ethicon – a company specialising in surgical equipment and sutures.

Before moving to Novartis in 2004, Mr Gorsky worked as group chairman for J&Js pharmaceutical business in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, a J&J spokesman told Reuters.

His departure arrives as the Swiss drug firm’s new global head of pharmaceuticals Joseph Jimenez attempts to bring in changes to the unit and improve performance.

Earnings and sales have been hit in recent quarters by generic drug competition and US regulatory scrutiny, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, a Novartis spokeswoman has said Mr Gorsky’s resignation was not associated with the shake up and that no successor has been named.

Earlier this month, Novartis announced that Galvus (vildagliptin), its novel treatment for patients with type two diabetes, has received approval in Europe for its latest label update – a move which will pave the way for launches of the product throughout the EU.