Novartis gains after positive late-stage MS drug trial data

Novartis AG

01/09/2026 09:04

** Shares in Novartis NOVN.S rise 4.6% after the Swiss drugmaker's oral multiple sclerosis (MS) drug remibrutinib met the main goals in two late-stage studies and outperformed teriflunomide in reducing relapse rates 
** Remibrutinib is one of three Novartis pipeline assets representing more than $10 billion in peak annual sales potential
** Vontobel points to remibrutinib's favourable safety profile, particularly the absence of liver safety signals, after several setbacks for BTK inhibitors across the industry
** Zuercher Kantonalbank says remibrutinib is one of Novartis' most important growth drivers and adds the results support a new class of oral MS therapies
** Shares are on track for their best day since March 2023
     
($1 = 0.8102 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Kira Britten)
((Kira.Britten@thomsonreuters.com))