Thank you, ggwpq, for the text of that long call of NVS CEO Vas(as everyone calls him). You gave me 2 such calls to wade through in 24 hours—one from JNJ, the largest pharm co.in U.S., and NVS, the largest pharm co. in Europe.
I sold our NVS shares a few years ago; I am/was today not at all familiar with brand names and indications of drugs in its proprietary Innovative medicine portfolio like analysts are. Those here who do or do not have NVS in portfolio should read what CEO Vas and CFO have to say about NVS, the slow ramp it experienced in launching Entresto and Leqvio into cardiology centers in Europe(“always takes time” in UK and Germany as Amarin is discovering and KM warned). I was impressed that Vas, a cardiologist who is now a CEO, spent 3 days himself in visiting hospitals and group cardiology practices in the United States discussing, inter alia, the patient and doctor advantages of Leqvio with its twice a year dosage injection to lower cholesterol in patients. He discussed NBL, a weight loss drug, now in Phase 2 trials, in the course of a discussion of diabetes and obesity indication of its drugs.
He discussed the unexpected loss of the Gilenya patent in the Federal Circuit. It appears NVS may petition for a CAFC reconsideration of the decision.
Last, in response to a question from GS about capital allocation, he discussed the trade off between the $7.5Billion dividend NVS has, buybacks of NVS shares, and bolt-on acquisitions amounting to Billions “for the right opportunity.” Left unsaid is whether Amarin might represent such an “opportunity”.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
