For the moment, Vasella has what he has needed for some time--another potential blockbuster to complement Novartis' hypertension drug Diovan.

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Other than Diovan for hypertension, Novartis didn't have any hot new drugs.

FORBES: Reviving Novartis

Recently Diovan's marketers added a new weapon: a big study showing that adding the drug to standard medications reduces complications from heart failure.

FORBES: Reviving Novartis

Still, the pill must continue to fight for share against competitors like Diovan, from Novartis (nyse: NVS - news - people ).

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The company's Diovan hypertension drug is catching up to Merck's Cozaar.

FORBES: Reviving Novartis

He returns to Novartis as it goes through what pharma insiders call a patent cliff: Novartis sales will be flat this year, the company said, as Diovan goes off patent.

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Kay, who rates Merck a "buy, " views this as an important defense against Diovan, a competing drug made by Novartis (nyse: NVS - news - people ) that he believes physicians perceive as slightly more powerful.

FORBES: Magazine Article