Novartis looks to IBS drug Zelnorm as its next blockbuster earner

Novartis is optimistic that its irritable bowel syndrome treatment Zelnorm/Zelmac (tegaserod) has blockbuster potential, a senior company spokesman revealed at the United European Gastroenterology Week congress in Prague, Czech Republic.

Bo Joelsson, vice president of Novartis US gastroenterology clinical development, told the meeting: "I'm personally confident this drug will be a billion-dollar earner for Novartis and possibly its biggest-selling drug in 10 years time." Zelnorm, a 5HT4 receptor partial agonist which regulates intestinal motility, was launched in the USA two years ago and is also available in 55 non-European Union countries for IBS with constipation.

The initial indication saw Zelnorm used episodically for IBS in treatment courses of up to 12 weeks. The company now has a new license in 10 countries, including the USA, to promote Zelnorm for chronic constipation in adults where patients could take the treatment on a regular basis indefinitely. Novartis said talks with the US Food and Drug Administration are in progress regarding chronic constipation studies in children. Chronic constipation affects 5%-10% of the population in the USA, where Zelnorm's wholesale acquisition cost is $4.60 per patient per day.