Big Pharma — Novartis

Novartis calls off 3 Beovu trials testing more frequent dosing on concerns of vision-threatening side effect Novartis has terminated three clinical trials testing eye drug Beovu at an increased dosing frequency thanks to safety concerns. (Novartis) The vision-threatening safety risk from Novartis’ new VEGF inhibitor Beovu just got even clearer. Friday, Novartis said it had decided to nix three Beovu trials early after an interim analysis of the phase 3 Merlin study found increased rates of inflammation of the eyes in patients who got Beovu compared with those who received Regeneron and Bayer’s rival Eylea. The Merlin trial, as well as the...