Novartis data at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting will highlight the following:

The potential for some patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treated with Tasigna^® (nilotinib), to achieve a sustained deep level of molecular response and maintain a major molecular response after stopping therapy – a concept called Treatment-free Remission (TFR):

• Treatment-free remission (TFR) in patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) treated with frontline nilotinib: Results from the ENESTFreedom study [Abstract #7001; Saturday, June 4, 3:12 PM CDT]
• Treatment-free remission (TFR) in patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) treated with second-line nilotinib (NIL): First results from the ENESTop study [Abstract #7054; Monday, June 6, 8:00 AM CDT]

Update on the efficacy and safety of Tafinlar^® (dabrafenib) and Mekinist^® (trametinib) combination therapy in patients with BRAF V600–mutated cancers, including potential indications under investigation:

• Genomic analysis and 3-y efficacy and safety update of COMBI-d: A Phase III study of dabrafenib (D) + trametinib (T) vs D monotherapy in patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600E/K-mutant cutaneous melanoma [Abstract #9502;Monday, June 6, 1:39 PM CDT]
• An open-label Phase II trial of dabrafenib (D) in combination with trametinib (T) in patients with previously treated BRAF V600E–mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; BRF113928) [Abstract #107; Monday, June 6, 9:57 AM CDT]
• ROAR: A Phase II, open-label study in patients with BRAF V600E–mutated rare cancers to investigate the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib (D) and trametinib (T) combination therapy [Abstract # TPS2604; Sunday, June 5, 8:00 AM CDT]

Updates on CTL019, an investigational Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, in relapsed/refractory pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):

• Sustained remissions with CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells in children with relapsed/refractory ALL [Abstract #3011; Monday, June 6, 4:54 PM CDT]

Ongoing investigation of established and pipeline therapies for patients with unmet needs:

• Long-term outcomes of ruxolitinib (RUX) therapy in patients with myelofibrosis (MF): 5-year update from COMFORT-I [Abstract #7012; Monday, June 6, 11:30 AM CDT]**
• Phase I study of the safety and efficacy of the cMET inhibitor capmatinib (INC280) in patients (pts) with advanced cMET+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [Abstract #9067; Saturday, June 4, 8:00 AM CDT]

Additional notable data from Novartis’ core disease areas of focus include:

Breast Cancer:

• A randomized trial (MA.17R) of extending adjuvant letrozole for 5 years after completing an initial 5 years of aromatase inhibitor therapy alone or preceded by tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer [Abstract #LBA1; Sunday, June 5, 1:40 PM CDT]
• Patient-reported outcomes from MA.17R: A randomized trial of extending adjuvant letrozole for 5 years after completing an initial 5 years of aromatase inhibitor therapy alone or preceded by tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer [Abstract #LBA506; Monday, June 6, 3:15 PM CDT]
• Correlation of PIK3CA mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and efficacy of everolimus (EVE) in metastatic breast cancer: Results from BOLERO-2 [Abstract #519; Sunday, June 5, 11:30 AM CDT]
• Prevention of everolimus/exemestane (EVE/EXE) stomatitis in postmenopausal (PM) women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) using a dexamethasone-based mouthwash (MW): Results of the SWISH trial [Abstract #525; Sunday, June 5, 8:00 AM CDT]
• Evaluation of lapatinib as a component of neoadjuvant therapy for HER2+ operable breast cancer: 5-year outcomes of NSABP protocol B-41 [Abstract #501; Monday, June 6, 1:27 PM CDT]
• Ribociclib (LEE011) and letrozole in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2–) advanced breast cancer (aBC): Phase Ib safety, preliminary efficacy and molecular analysis [Abstract #568; Sunday, June 5, 8:00 AM CDT]

Lung Cancer:

• Genetic landscape of ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and response to ceritinib in ASCEND-1 [Abstract #9064; Saturday, June 4, 8:00 AM CDT]
• Phase II safety and efficacy results of a single-arm Ph Ib/II study of capmatinib (INC280) + gefitinib in patients with EGFR-mutated (mut), cMET-positive (cMET+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [Abstract #9020; Saturday, June 4, 3:00 PM CDT]

Hematology:

• PILLAR-2: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III study of adjuvant everolimus (EVE) in patients (pts) with poor-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) [Abstract #7506; Sunday, June 5, 11:45 AM CDT]
• ReTHINK: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, Phase III study of ruxolitinib in early myelofibrosis patients [Abstract #TPS7080; Monday, June 6, 8:00 AM CDT]**
• Patient reported outcomes (PROs) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated with panobinostat (PAN) after ≥2 lines of therapy based on the international Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, PANORAMA-1 trial [Abstract #8054; Monday, June 6, 8:00 AM CDT]

Other Tumor Types:

• A first-in-human phase I study of the anti-PD-1 antibody PDR001 in patients with advanced solid tumors [Abstract #3060;Sunday, June 5, 8:00 AM CDT]
• BERIL-1: A Phase II, placebo-controlled study of buparlisib (BKM120) plus paclitaxel vs placebo plus paclitaxel in patients with platinum-pretreated recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [Abstract #6008;Sunday, June 5, 10:12 AM CDT]
• BERIL-1: Biomarker results from targeted sequencing of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and archival tissue in a randomized Phase II study of buparlisib (BKM120) or placebo + paclitaxel in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [Abstract #6045; Saturday, June 4, 1:00 PM CDT]
• A Phase II study of the efficacy and safety of the cMET inhibitor capmatinib (INC280) in patients (pts) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [Abstract #4074; Saturday, June 4, 8:00 AM CDT]
• Everolimus (EVE) in advanced, nonfunctional, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of gastrointestinal (GI) or lung origin: Second interim overall survival (OS) results from the RADIANT-4 study [Abstract #4090; Saturday, June 4,8:00 AM CDT]
• Genomic mutation profiling (GMP) and clinical outcome in patients (pts) treated with ribociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) in the Signature program [Abstract 2528; Sunday, June 5, 8:00 AM CDT]

About Novartis

Located in East Hanover, New Jersey, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit Novartis.com.

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