Blockbuster hopes for Rasilez fade at Novartis

Novartis' ($NVS) bid to expand the use of Rasilez has run into serious trouble. The pharma company joined the lineup of Big Pharma companies reporting trial setbacks today with the news that unexpected side effects and disappointing efficacy results forced them to halt their development work. Novartis had hoped that Rasilez, sold as Tekturna in the U.S., could be used to guard organs. Investigators had recruited more than 8,000 patients in danger of organ failure for its studies. Report