Novartis announces Aliskiren will continue to be available to appropriate patients, as FDA interim assessment is concluded; product information updated

Novartis announced today that the Tekturna® labels have been updated in the US, following the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) review of the preliminary findings from the ALTITUDE study. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 20, 2012 - The label change includes a contraindication against combined use of aliskiren-based products with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with diabetes. The FDA has also requested the inclusion of a warning against the use of aliskiren-based products in patients with moderate renal (kidney) impairment (eGFR < 60 ml/min) who are also taking an ACE inhibitor or an ARB. Aliskiren-based products will continue to be available in the US for the treatment of high blood pressure in appropriate patients.

Furthermore, and in consultation with the FDA, Novartis has decided to voluntarily cease marketing in the US of Valturna® (aliskiren and valsartan, USP), a single pill combination of aliskiren and the ARB valsartan. Valturna sales in the US represented less than 10% of Aliskiren sales in 2011. Novartis advises US patients to seek guidance from their prescribing healthcare provider at their next (non-urgent) visit to determine appropriate alternate therapy. Novartis has also decided to voluntarily withdraw marketing authorization of the same combination pill in Switzerland, Rasival® (aliskiren and valsartan), which received marketing approval for export but was not launched.

"These decisions come after extensive discussions with the FDA and Swissmedic," said David Epstein, Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "Patient safety continues to be our highest priority and we will continue to work with health authorities worldwide to provide aliskiren-based products to the most appropriate patient population who would benefit."

These updates follow the Novartis announcement on February 17, 2012 that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded the risk-benefit review of Rasilez and combination products containing aliskiren and confirmed it remains positive in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of essential hypertension, with label changes.

About Aliskiren-based products in the US
The US Prescribing Information has been updated for Tekturna, Tekturna HCT® (aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide), Tekamlo(TM) (aliskiren and amlodipine) and Amturnide(TM) (aliskiren, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide).

In view of the importance of controlling high blood pressure and to enable physicians to transition patients to alternate therapies, Novartis will make Valturna available in the US until July 20, 2012. Novartis advises patients in the US to seek guidance from their prescribing healthcare provider at their next (non-urgent) visit, prior to July 20, 2012, to determine appropriate alternate therapy. Novartis will communicate to US physicians informing them of the above actions.

About ALTITUDE
ALTITUDE was a multinational study in 8,606 patients from 36 countries evaluating the potential benefits of aliskiren to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and renal events in this patient population.

ALTITUDE was the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate aliskiren for more than one year in a specific population of patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment. These patients are known to be at high risk of cardiovascular and renal events. In the study, aliskiren was given in addition to optimal cardiovascular treatment including an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

About Aliskiren
Aliskiren was approved in the US and EU in 2007 under the brand names Tekturna and Rasilez, respectively, for the treatment of hypertension either as monotherapy or in combination with other medications. It is available in 63 countries. These products remain available for appropriate patients. For additional information, please visit http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/product-related-info-center/resilez-tekturna.shtml.

US Important Safety Information

TEKTURNA, TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, and AMTURNIDE are indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals.

AMTURNIDE is not indicated for initial therapy of hypertension

Use TEKTURNA HCT or TEKAMLO as initial therapy in patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals. Switch a patient whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with aliskiren or hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) monotherapy to TEKTURNA HCT. Switch a patient whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with aliskiren or amlodipine (or another dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker [DHP-CCB]) alone to combination therapy with TEKAMLO.

Use AMTURNIDE for patients not adequately controlled with any two of the following: aliskiren, DHP-CCB, and thiazide diuretics. Switch a patient who experiences dose-limiting adverse reactions attributed to an individual component-while on any dual combination of components of AMTURNIDE-to AMTURNIDE at a lower dose of that component to achieve similar blood pressure reductions.

TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, and AMTURNIDE may be substituted for their titrated components.

Safety and efficacy of aliskiren in pediatric patients have not been established.

Base the choice of TEKTURNA HCT or TEKAMLO as initial therapy on an assessment of potential benefits and risks. Individualize the decision to use a combination as initial therapy by weighing factors such as baseline blood pressure, the target goal, and the incremental likelihood of achieving goal with a combination compared to monotherapy.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: AVOID USE IN PREGNANCY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue TEKTURNA, TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, or AMTURNIDE as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. See Warnings and Precautions (5.1).

Contraindications: Do not use aliskiren with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) in patients with diabetes because of increased risk of renal impairment, hyperkalemia, and hypotension.
Because of the HCTZ component, TEKTURNA HCT and AMTURNIDE are contraindicated in patients with anuria or hypersensitivity to sulfonamide-derived drugs like HCTZ. Hypersensitivity reactions may range from urticaria to anaphylaxis.

Angioedema: Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis and/or larynx has been reported in patients treated with aliskiren and has necessitated hospitalization and intubation. This may occur at any time during treatment and has occurred in patients with and without a history of angioedema with ACEIs or angiotensin receptor antagonists. Discontinue TEKTURNA, TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, or AMTURNIDE immediately in patients who develop angioedema, and do not readminister.
Hypotension: In patients with an activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), such as volume- and/or salt-depleted patients receiving high doses of diuretics, symptomatic hypotension may occur in patients receiving RAAS blockers. Correct these conditions before administering TEKTURNA, TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, or AMTURNIDE, or start the treatment under close medical supervision.

Risk of MI or Angina: Rarely, initiation or change to the dose of a calcium channel blocker has resulted in the increased frequency, duration, or severity of angina or acute myocardial infarction, particularly in patients with severe obstructive coronary artery disease.

Impaired Renal Function: Avoid use of TEKTURNA, TEKTURNA HCT, TEKAMLO, or AMTURNIDE with ARBs or ACEIs in patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR

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