Novartis backs brolucizumab with new head-to-head Eylea trial

Novartis is launching a head-to-head trial of its experimental brolucizumab therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) against Bayer/Regeneron’s Eylea, the market leader. The TALON trial in the wet form of AMD will compare brolucizumab against Eylea (aflibercept) on a range of measures, including visual acuity and treatment interval duration, to see if it can outperform Bayer and Regeneron’s drug. An FDA verdict on brolucizumab is due shortly based on two earlier trials – HAWK and HARRIER – and the company is hoping to launch its new therapy before the end of the year in the US. Brolucizumab is a follow-up to Novartis’ blockbuster AMD therapy Lucentis (ranibizumab), which has been competing toe-to-toe in the AMD market with Eylea for several years. Novartis reported sales of $2 billion for Lucentis last year, with its marketing partner Roche adding another $1.7 billion in US sales. In comparison, Regeneron posted $4 billion revenues from the US while Bayer made $2.1 billion in ex-US Eylea sales. Brolucizumab is seen as Novartis’ big chance to claim back dominance of the wet AMD market, which has seen first-to-market Lucentis progressively caught up and overtaken by Eylea over the last few years, and the company spent a priority review voucher in order to get the FDA review done as quickly as possible.