Novartis climbs on upbeat drug sales as key readouts loom

An article from Dive Brief Novartis climbs on upbeat drug sales as key readouts loom A return to quarterly sales growth boosted shares higher on Tuesday, though a handful of coming study results will have a bigger impact on the company’s long-term outlook. Published July 21, 2026 By Kristin Jensen Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google Dive Brief: Novartis said second-quarter sales inched upward, beating analyst expectations for a decline as demand for newer products helped offset generic competition for its former top-selling heart medication Entresto. At constant exchange rates, net sales increased 1% to $14.4 billion, Novartis said Tuesday. That beat the consensus estimate of about $13.7 billion, Jefferies analyst Michael Leuchten wrote in a note to clients. Core operating income reached $5.94 billion, topping the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. Leuchten had expected core operating income of $5.16 billion on sales of $13.8 billion. The Swiss drugmaker highlighted increases of more than 30% for “priority brands” including Kisqali, Kesimpta, Scemblix, Pluvicto and Leqvio. Revenue from Entresto plunged by half to $1.18 billion in the period, moving the drug down to fourth place on the list of Novartis’ most lucrative products. Dive Insight: Already buffeted by Entresto losses in the U.S., Novartis is looking ahead to one of the most daunting patent cliffs in the pharmaceutical industry over the next five years, affecting all four of its top-selling medicines in the second quarter. Entresto is set to lose exclusivity in Europe in 2028. After that, U.S. patent expirations follow for its biggest moneymaker, Cosentyx, in 2029 and both Kesimpta and Kisqali in 2031. But Novartis executives are offering an upbeat assessment of the future, pointing to successful launches of newer products and promising drugs in the pipeline. “We are on track for multiple important readouts ahead in the second half, and remain on track to deliver our full-year guidance and mid-term outlook,” CEO Vas Narasimhan said in the company’s release Tuesday. To bolster its pipeline, Novartis has undertaken a raft of smaller acquisitions in recent years as well as a $12 billion takeover of Avidity Biosciences, a specialist in RNA medicines for rare neuromuscular conditions. That deal, completed in February, handed Novartis a potential blockbuster drug called del-desiran, which is being tested in a form of myotonic dystrophy. Results from that trial are expected this year, and have important implications for Novartis as well as others with rival programs. Leuchten, meanwhile, said his focus is on a planned second-half readout of a Phase 3 trial of pelacarsen, a new type of cholesterol-lowering drug. In its earnings presentation, Novartis highlighted an additional five medicines with readouts scheduled for this year, including research that could expand the use of remibrutinib, part of a class of autoimmune drugs that has had mixed results in testing. Novartis shares rose 4% in early U.S. trading Tuesday. The company reiterated its guidance for the full year, saying it expected low single-digit net sales growth and a low single-digit decline in core operating income. Recommended Reading 10 clinical trials to watch the rest of 2026 By BioPharma Dive staff • June 29, 2026 Add us on Google Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Filed Under: Pharma, Marketing