~ Breakthrough cancer treatment receives 2003 Innovative Drug Product Award from Prix Galien ~
DORVAL, Quebec (September 23, 2003 ) — Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada's Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) received the Canadian pharmaceutical industry's most distinguished prize when it was awarded the Prix Galien Canada Innovative Drug Product Award in Toronto on Thursday evening. The Prix Galien is awarded each year to a medication introduced in Canada that is considered to have made the most significant contribution in terms of innovation, efficacy and safety.
Gleevec® is approved in Canada for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in blast crisis, accelerated phase or in chronic phase (after failure of interferon-alpha therapy); and for the treatment of patients with unresectable and/or metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). It is the first cancer treatment in the world to be developed with rational drug design, based on an understanding of how cancer cells work. The preciseness by which the drug targets the cancer cells differentiates Gleevec® from most other oncology products.
"Gleevec® is a remarkable product, with hematologic and cytogenetic responses far superior to those produced by interferon in CML patients. It is administered orally, once a day. And there is an undeniable advantage in the fact that the therapy does not require hospitalization," affirms Dr. Jacques Gagné, Prix Galien president.
In clinical trials performed on CML patients in the chronic stages, white blood cell counts returned to normal in nearly 90% of patients who had undergone unsuccessful interferon therapy, and 49% of patients achieved major cytogenetic responses.
"Gleevec® is an important development for the future of cancer research and treatment, and we are honoured that it has been recognized with this distinguished award," said Ludwig Hantson, President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada. "We are also thankful to be able to make this important medication available to Canadian patients who desperately need it."
The Prix Galien was established in 1970 in France to promote significant advances in pharmaceutical research and development. After several years of success and prestige, the concept quickly spread to other countries including Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Canada, the United States and Switzerland. Every two years, the International Prix Galien is awarded to an innovative drug product.
The members of the Prix Galien Canada jury are well-respected authorities in pharmaceuticals, medicine and pharmacology, with unquestioned expertise and credibility in their respective fields.
Forward Looking Statement
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the Company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "first," "important development," "remarkable" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of Gleevec®. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gleevec® or the Company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these are uncertainties relating to unexpected regulatory delays, government regulation or competition in general, as well as factors discussed in the Company's Form 20F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
ABOUT NOVARTIS CANADA
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada conducts hundreds of clinical trials across the country seeking new treatments for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, organ transplantation and glaucoma. In 2002, the Company invested $35 million in research and development. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 780 people in Canada and its headquarters are located in Dorval, Quebec. In addition to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., the Novartis Group in Canada consists of Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., Novartis Consumer Health Canada Inc., (including Novartis Nutrition Corporation and Gerber [Canada] Inc.) and CIBA Vision Canada Inc.
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