Novartis expects a more difficult pricing environment for drugs in the United States in the years ahead, its chief executive told a results conference call on Tuesday.
“We expect pricing to become more difficult in the U.S. over the next three to five years,” Joe Jimenez said.
Both major U.S. presidential candidates have cited concern about drug pricing.
Swiss rival Roche’s Chief Executive Severin Schwan had said last week he did not see a “fundamental change” in U.S. price pressure after the Nov. 8 presidential election, regardless of which candidate wins.
Jimenez also said Novartis was on track to reach $1 billion sales in biosimilars this year. He said Novartis would focus on bolt-on acquisitions and a larger deal would be considered only if it was “very attractive” to Novartis, he said.
By Silke Koltrowitz and Paul Arnold
Source: Reuters
Giovanni Caforio, the former CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, is set to become the next board chairman of Novartis, which on Tuesday proposed the pharmaceutical industry veteran as its pick to replace Joerg Reinhardt in the role next year. Reinhardt has served as Novartis’ chair since 2013 and plans to retire when his 12-year term ends in 2025.
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