BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Novartis Pharma AG announced it has filed an application to various regulatory authorities for a new indication for Diovana (valsartan) to improve survival and reduce cardiovascular events in patients at high-risk after surviving a heart attack. The application has been submitted in the U.S. and in Europe to the Reference Member State, Sweden, as part of the Mutual Recognition Procedure, to the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Further filings are planned to other health authorities including France, Australia, Asian and Latin American countries during the next few weeks. Already approved for the first-line treatment of high blood pressure in more than 80 countries and for heart failure in more than 40 countries, Diovan(r) is the fastest-growing branded high blood pressure treatment and also the second largest selling antihypertensive in the world.
Please see full press release under the following link: http://hugin.info/134323/R/932350/128067.pdf