Novartis' Breast Cancer Drug Trials Yield Positive Results, Boosting Stock

Novartis's Kisqali breast cancer drug has shown a clear benefit in cutting the risk of recurrence in women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, according to a pivotal trial. The trial was stopped early after an interim analysis showed a clear benefit. Kisqali has been approved to treat hormone-driven breast cancer that has spread to other body parts, but the earlier-stage setting is seen as a much larger market. Kisqali is one of two new drugs with a particularly important role for the group's future sales growth.