FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for RLX030 for Acute Heart Failure

Novartis has announced that FDA has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding the Biologics License Application (BLA) for RLX030 (serelaxin) for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF), stating that further evidence on the efficacy of RLX030 is required for a US licence to be granted.

"We continue to believe RLX030 has the potential to be an important treatment for AHF and have been encouraged by feedback from FDA advisory committee members noting the data are intriguing," said Tim Wright, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "In accordance with FDA's advice we will continue to expedite our clinical trial programme to build the supporting body of evidence."

The RLX030 submission to the FDA included phase II and III efficacy and safety data from the clinical development program, including the pivotal phase III RELAX-AHF study. Novartis is continuing to expand the data supporting the efficacy of RLX030 in acute heart failure with an extensive global clinical program, including the RELAX-AHF-2 trial which will enroll over 6300 patients.