Also known as: Entresto
Novartis beat second-quarter profit expectations as Kisqali, Kesimpta and Leqvio offset a 50% plunge in Entresto sales. The Swiss drugmaker maintained its full-year guidance and awaits late-stage data on three experimental drugs.
President Trump said Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan told him the drugmaker is building 11 U.S. plants due to tariff policies. Novartis confirmed progress on facilities in North Carolina, California, and Florida. Narasimhan also said he has no plans to step down as CEO.
Novartis posted Q2 2026 earnings above expectations but a 50% drop in Entresto sales from U.S. generics hurt performance. The company highlighted new EU and Japan approvals for Rhapsido and Itvisma, and a manufacturing restructuring including a German plant closure and investment in radioligand production. A $1.8 billion peptide drug pact with Unnatural Products was also announced.
China's 12th national Volume-Based Procurement round places RMB 60 billion across 65 drug varieties, accelerating generics and biosimilars substitution. Separately, Genialis launched BioBridge to help translate Chinese oncology trial results into Western development programs, as Chinese out-licensing hit $137.7 billion in 2025.
Novartis reported 2025 sales of $54.5 billion, up 8%, while earnings per share rose 15% to $8.98. Amarin reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $213.6 million, down 6.5%, and narrowed its net loss per share to $0.09 from $0.20.
The global biopharmaceutical industry entered 2026 facing one of the largest waves of patent expirations in its history, with $200-300 billion in yearly sales at risk through 2032 as major drugs lose exclusivity.
