Novartis moves closer to first oral MS treatment

ZURICH, April 13 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG (NOVN.VX) moved closer to bringing the first oral multiple sclerosis treatment to market after new data showed its Gilenia cut relapse rates in the disease on Tuesday.

Novartis pulled further ahead of rival Merck KGaA's (MRCG.DE) pill cladribine to treat the debilitating nervous disease last February when Gilenia, FTY720, was given U.S. priority review status. [ID:nZAT010747]

Data presented at the American Academy for Neurology (AAN) showed the annual relapse rates were reduced by 62 percent in newly treated patients, while relapse rates were lowered by 44 percent in previously treated patients, Novartis said.

New extension data also showed that Gilenia worked over two years, with patients taking the drug for the period having a significant reduction in relapses and MRI brain lesions compared to the group which first took interferon beta-1a and later switched to Gilenia.

U.S. and EU regulatory reviews are underway for Gilenia.

(Reporting by Katie Reid)