NVS Novartis AG

By Michael Dabaie

Novartis AG said asciminib showed superior major molecular response rate to Bosulif in a chronic myeloid leukemia trial.

The company said results from a Phase III study demonstrate that at 24 weeks, asciminib nearly doubled the major molecular response rate compared with Bosulif in patients resistant to, or intolerant of, at least two prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies.

The data were presented at a late-breaking abstracts session during the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition, Novartis said.

In the trial, 233 patients were randomized to receive asciminib 40 mg twice daily or Bosulif 500 mg once a day.

Novartis said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track designation for asciminib. The company said it plans submission to U.S. and EU health authorities in the first half of 2021.

Write to Michael Dabaie at michael.dabaie@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 08, 2020 10:45 ET (15:45 GMT)

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