Novartis said remibrutinib reduced annualized relapse rates by 35.2% and 31.2% versus teriflunomide, below analysts’ expected range of 45% to 60%. Roche reported a 55% reduction for its rival drug in pooled Phase III data.
Novartis’ remibrutinib reduced annualized relapse rates by 35.2% and 31.2% versus teriflunomide, an older multiple sclerosis treatment sold by Sanofi as Aubagio. Analysts had expected a reduction of 45% to 60%. The detailed trial results were presented at a medical conference in Toronto after previously being disclosed only in top-line form.
Roche reported a 55% reduction in annualized relapse rates versus teriflunomide in pooled Phase III data for fenebrutinib. Heinz Wiendl, co-chair of the Novartis studies, said the drugs “might be quite similar in what they do in terms of reducing relapses and disability.”
Novartis said remibrutinib showed no liver safety signal, while Roche’s fenebrutinib showed significantly higher liver enzyme elevations versus the comparator drug. Analysts estimate remibrutinib could generate more than $4 billion in peak sales if approved for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
