FDA panel votes against serelaxin for acute heart failure

By Reuters Staff

(Reuters) - A drug to treat acute heart failure made by Novartis AG should not be approved because there is insufficient evidence that it improves symptoms, a panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded on Thursday.

The panel's no vote on the drug serelaxin was unanimous.

The FDA is not obliged to follow the advice of its advisory panels but typically does so.

The FDA is scheduled to make its decision on the drug, which would be called Reasanz if approved, by May 17th.

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