endpts.com·Apr 20, 2026
Novartis has discontinued two late-stage programs targeting cancer-related blood clots due to observed inferior efficacy in clinical trials, marking a setback for a candidate they out-licensed in 2019.
For a professional tracking healthtech and biotech, the key takeaway is the importance of robust efficacy data in late-stage clinical trials for drug candidates, especially in competitive areas like cancer-related blood clots. This highlights the potential risks and challenges of in-licensing strategies, emphasizing the need for thorough due diligence and contingency planning when investing in or developing late-stage drug candidates.