Could Novartis Stock Quietly Help You Build a Millionaire Retirement Portfolio?

Novartis' business is resilient, as evidenced by its ability to grow sales despite a major patent cliff. The Swiss healthcare giant's income program is another great attraction for long-term investors.

The Motley Fool • 10 hours ago

Novartis presents Rhapsido® (remibrutinib) data at AAAAI, showing potential beyond chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)

Basel, February 23, 2026 – Novartis will present data from five key abstracts evaluating the highly selective oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) Rhapsido® (remibrutinib) in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and as an investigational therapy for peanut allergy at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, from February 27 to March 2, 2026. These presentations provide more evidence on the use of Rhapsido in CSU, as well as its potential in other indications and highlight Novartis commitment to addressing unmet needs in patients with immune-mediated diseases. New analyses on the impact of Rhapsido on disease control and early symptom relief from the Phase III REMIX-1 and REMIX-2 trials in CSU will be presented. Additionally, the first presentation of Phase II FA data for remibrutinib, focusing on IgE‑mediated peanut allergy, will be featured in an oral session. Plans are in progress to begin the Phase III program in FA in 2026. “These food allergy (FA) data further strengthen the evidence supporting remibrutinib as a novel, well-tolerated, oral option for patients with allergic and immune-mediated diseases, complementing the recent FDA approval in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and underscoring its broader therapeutic potential,” said Angelika Jahreis, Global Head, Immunology Development, Novartis. "Our priority is advancing therapies for patients who have few alternatives and expanding the reach of innovative medicines to transform care across multiple, high-need disease areas."  Regulatory reviews for remibrutinib for the treatment of CSU are underway in several regions, including the European Union and Japan. In addition to FA, remibrutinib is in clinical development for chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). FDA submission for remibrutinib in symptomatic dermographism, the most prevalent type of CIndU, was completed in Q4 2025. Additionally, positive topline results were announced for the remaining two arms of the CIndU Phase III RemIND trial. In the coming months, the full data set will be submitted to health authorities globally, and the RemIND trial findings will be presented at upcoming medical congresses. Abstracts accepted by AAAAI include:

GlobeNewsWire • Feb 23, 2026

Novartis: This Big Pharma Giant Could Be a Sleep‑at‑Night Core Holding for Decades

Novartis is a large drugmaker with a wide-ranging portfolio. Like all drugmakers, it faces the challenge of patent expirations.

The Motley Fool • Feb 22, 2026

Trump meets Novartis CEO, says drugmaker building 11 US plants

U.S. President Donald Trump said he met Vas Narasimhan, the chief executive officer of Swiss drugmaker Novartis , at the White House on Wednesday.

Reuters • Feb 20, 2026

Novartis to sell entire 71% stake in Indian unit to consortium of WaveRise Investments

Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis said on Friday that it would sell its entire 70.68% stake in its listed Indian unit to a consortium of WaveRise Investments, ChrysCapital and Two Infinity Partners.

Reuters • Feb 20, 2026

Unnatural Products, Novartis sign license deal worth up to $1.7 billion for cardiovascular program

Unnatural Products said on Wednesday it has signed a licensing agreement with Novartis to develop macrocyclic peptide-based therapies for a cardiovascular program.

Reuters • Feb 18, 2026

Unnatural Products Announces Licensing Agreement with Novartis to Develop Macrocyclic Peptide Therapeutics

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unnatural Products, Inc. (UNP), a biotech developing orally-delivered macrocyclic peptides to address previously undruggable targets, today announced a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Novartis on an undisclosed program.

GlobeNewsWire • Feb 18, 2026

Novartis remibrutinib first therapy to achieve Phase III primary endpoint in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU)

Basel, February 18, 2026 – Novartis today announced positive topline results from its pivotal Phase III RemIND trial of oral remibrutinib in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU)1. The primary endpoint was met for the three most prevalent types of CIndU: symptomatic dermographism, cold urticaria and cholinergic urticaria, achieving significantly higher complete response rates versus placebo at Week 121. These data represent an important advance in the treatment of CIndU, demonstrating the potential of remibrutinib to be the first targeted therapy for CIndU and address a major unmet need.

GlobeNewsWire • Feb 18, 2026

Novartis Vanrafia® Phase III data support slowing of kidney function decline in patients with IgA nephropathy

Basel, February 13, 2026 – Novartis today announced final results from the Phase III ALIGN study supporting a slowing decline in kidney function in adults with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) who were treated with Vanrafia® (atrasentan). Vanrafia showed a difference of 2.39 ml/min/1.73m2 in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) change from baseline vs. placebo (2-sided p = 0.057) at Week 136, 4 weeks after the end of study treatment1. Clinically meaningful results were observed with Vanrafia compared to placebo in eGFR change from baseline at the end of study treatment at Week 132, and in the prespecified exploratory group of patients additionally receiving sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors1. At the end of treatment at Week 132, the eGFR change from baseline compared to placebo was 2.59 ml/min/1.73 m2 (nominal 2- sided p = 0.039)1. “Progressive and complex diseases such as IgAN present an urgent need for medicines that can target the different drivers of the disease. Vanrafia can be seamlessly integrated into patients' existing treatment plans, with a consistent safety profile,” said Ruchira Glaser, M.D., Global Head, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolic Development Unit, Novartis. “We are pleased with today's Phase III ALIGN results, which add to the growing evidence of Vanrafia as a potential foundational therapy to slow kidney function decline.” ALIGN provides the longest follow-up period in pivotal Phase III studies for IgAN3. Safety was consistent with previous findings1. Alongside Vanrafia, Novartis continues to advance its multi-asset IgAN portfolio, which also includes Fabhalta® (iptacopan) and investigational compound zigakibart. About IgAN IgAN is a progressive autoimmune kidney disease with approximately 25 per million people newly diagnosed worldwide each year4. IgAN is highly debilitating as it leads to glomerular inflammation (when the small filters in the kidneys are inflamed), proteinuria (excess protein in urine), and a gradual decline in eGFR5. Up to 50% of patients with persistent proteinuria progress to kidney failure within 10 to 20 years of diagnosis, often requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation as part of long-term disease management5-7. Furthermore, people living with IgAN often face mental, social, and economic challenges5-8. Supportive care has not addressed the underlying causes of the disease and often fails to slow disease progression, reinforcing the need for more targeted therapies for IgAN4 - 9. About Vanrafia ®  (atrasentan) Vanrafia (atrasentan) is a potent and highly selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist, which is part of the endothelin system, a key system involved in the progression of IgAN1 0 -1 3. Vanrafia is the first and only selective ETA receptor antagonist approved for primary IgAN, a once-daily, oral treatment and can be seamlessly added to, or used alongside, existing supportive care (e.g. renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor with or without SGLT2 inhibitor) without the need for titration2. Vanrafia does not require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. Because some endothelin receptor antagonists have caused elevations of aminotransferases, hepatotoxicity, and liver failure, clinicians should obtain liver enzyme testing before initiating Vanrafia and during treatment when clinically indicated. Vanrafia may cause serious birth defects2. About ALIGN The ALIGN study (NCT04573478) is a global, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Vanrafia versus placebo in patients with IgAN at risk of progressive loss of kidney function1-3. In total, 340 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN with baseline total proteinuria ≥1 g/day despite optimized RAS inhibitor treatment were randomized to receive once-daily, oral Vanrafia (0.75 mg) or placebo for approximately 132 weeks1,1 1. Patients continue receiving a maximally tolerated and stable dose of a RAS inhibitor as supportive care1 , 1 1. An additional cohort of 64 patients receiving an SGLT2 inhibitor in addition to RAS inhibitor for at least 12 weeks was also enrolled1 , 1 1. The primary efficacy endpoint for the interim analysis (in 270 patients) was change in proteinuria, as measured by 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) from baseline to 36 weeks1,3,1 1. The key secondary endpoint for the final analysis is the change from baseline to 136 weeks in kidney function as measured by eGFR. Other secondary efficacy endpoints as well as safety and tolerability are also assessed1-3. Novartis commitment to kidney diseases  Building on a legacy of more than 40 years that began in transplant, Novartis is on a mission to empower breakthroughs and transform care in kidney health, starting with kidney conditions that have significant unmet need. Historically, these conditions have had considerably less funding and research, leading to a treatment landscape largely focused on reactive or end-stage disease management, often with significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Our portfolio targets the underlying causes of disease, with an aim to protect kidney health and delay or prevent dialysis and/or transplantation. Our goal is to help patients get back to living life on their terms - whether at work, in school, or with loved ones, and by partnering with patients, advocates, clinicians and policymakers, we aim to raise awareness, accelerate diagnosis, and get patients the right care, sooner. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis  Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach nearly 300 million people worldwide. Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at  https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , X/Twitter and Instagram . References

GlobeNewsWire • Feb 13, 2026

NVS Reports Positive Late-Stage Data on Kidney Disease Drug Vanrafia

Novartis posts positive phase III ALIGN data for Vanrafia in IgAN, showing slower kidney decline as it eyes full approval in 2026.

Zacks Investment Research • Feb 13, 2026