NOVARTIS ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF ENROLMENT IN ITS VALIANT TRIAL, DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF DIOVAN ON LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER HEART ATTACK.

PR Newswire, London, June 27. This press release is transmitted on behalf of Novartis.

Over 14,500 post myocardial infarction (MI) patients in 24 countries enrolled in trial

Basel, Switzerland -

Novartis today announced the completion of enrolment of the VALsartan In Acute Myocardial INfarction Trial (VALIANT). VALIANT is the first ever multinational study designed to determine the effects of its angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) Diovan(r) (valsartan) in high-risk patients who have survived a myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. (1) The study, which will compare Diovan alone, and in combination with, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (captopril), is due to report in 2004, and is one in a series of major clinical trials examining the protective benefits of the highly selective ARB Diovan beyond blood pressure lowering.

"Even with current therapy, heart attack survivors remain at high risk for recurrent heart attacks, disability and death. If successful in demonstrating improvements over current therapy, VALIANT can…