Novartis: A Swiss Drug Co. with a interest in Roche

Pfizer Novartis gets tentative Exforge approval


NEW YORK (AFX) - Drug developer Novartis said Friday the Food and Drug
Administration gave its hypertension drug Exforge tentative approval.
The agency approved the two-in-one pill, pending the expiration of one of
the patents protecting amlodipine besylate, made by Pfizer Inc. as Norvasc.
Novartis' Exforge combines two high blood pressure drugs: Diovan and Norvasc.
Exforge will be available in September.
Shares of Switzerland-based Novartis fell 48 cents to $57.38 on the New York
Stock Exchange while shares of Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, lost 1
cent to $26.06 on the Big Board.