Novartis AG is discontinuing development of Tasigna as a treatment for cancerous tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. According to the company, an independent data-monitoring committee recommended discontinuing a late-stage trial comparing Tasigna and Gleevec as a first-line treatment of gastrointestinal tumors after interim results showed that patients taking Tasigna were unlikely to live longer than those taking Gleevec, the current standard of care.

Tasigna is approved in the EU, Switzerland and Japan as a treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia.