6. Novartis - Top 15 R&D Budgets

Who: Novartis

Based: Switzerland

2006 Pipeline Budget: $5.94 billion (€4.06B)

2007 Pipeline News: In 2007 Novartis gained FDA approval of in the U.S. and EU for Aclasta/Reclast [1], which is expected to generate $1.2 billion in sales by 2011, and Tekturna [2], an potential blockbuster drug for hypertension. However, its painkiller Prexige got a "not approvable" letter due to safety concerns, and diabetes drug Galvus [3] has been stalled in the U.S. for similar reasons.

Novartis placed an emphasis on vaccines in 2007, paying Intercell €270 million [4] to license more than 10 early and pre-clinical development programs. The company currently has 138 projects in development, 50 of which are in Phase II or III testing.

Pipeline breakdown*:
Galvus - Diabetes
Xolair - Allergic Asthma

Anticipated 2008 filings:
QAB149 - COPD
LBH589 - Solid tumors
AGO178 - Depression
Tifacogin - CAP
MFF258 - COPD/Asthma
RAD001 - Solid tumors
Tobramycin - Cystic Fibrosis
Tekturna - Hypertension

Anticipated 2009 filings:
LIC477 (US) - Bipolar disorder
FTY720 - Multiple sclerosis
SOM230 - Cushings / GEP3 tumors
EPO906 - Solid tumors
ACZ885 - Muckle Wells
ABF656 - Hepatitis C
Tasigna - GIST
MycograbTM (US) - Severe fungal infections
Galvus - Diabetes

Company Pipeline Site: Link [5]

* Data on the phases of these drugs was not available. The company's pipeline report was broken down according to the anticipated filing date rather than the phase of study.