Novartis' Tasigna beats Glivec in late stage trial

ZURICH Oct 20 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's (NOVN.VX) Tasigna drug met its main target in a late-stage, head-to-head trial against Glivec as a first line treatment against chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Novartis saidTasigna had faster and deeper responses than Glivec -- another one of its products -- in adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. (Reporting by Sam Cage)