Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance
Published . Updated .
Covered by 2 outlets: Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live, Reuters.
Who covered it: Center 1 · Not rated 1. How we rate outlets
By Patricia Weiss, Bhanvi Satija and Marleen Kaesebier ZURICH/LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Novartis booked a $1.9 billion partial impairment charge on Tuesday related to a drug trial setback in September, but also lifted its full-year guidance.
Directly affected
- NVS Novartis Ag+1.3% 17d
Named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR
Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- EWL iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF
iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF holds stocks listed in Switzerland, which this story is about (“zurich”).
- LLY Eli Lilly and+12.6% 30d
Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson-0.2% 30d
Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- PFE Pfizer+8.1% 30d
Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
- MRK Merck-2.9% 14d
Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVSNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLVNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XBINo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EWLNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LLYNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| JNJNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PFENo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MRKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live
Source: Euronext Markets: Real-time Stock Market Data | live
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Novartis Ag (NVS), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 61 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Eli Lilly (LLY) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 32 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 49 days before publication. Filed 5 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Pfizer (PFE) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Pfizer (PFE), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Pfizer (PFE), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 88 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Merck (MRK), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 33 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Merck (MRK), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 69 days before publication. Filed 9 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold Merck (MRK), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 88 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
Companies mentioned with this story
- XLV Select Sector Spdr Tr
For “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- XBI Spdr Series Trust
For “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance,” Spdr Series Trust (XBI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- LLY Eli Lilly
In “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance,” Eli Lilly (LLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson
In “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance,” Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- PFE Pfizer
Pfizer (PFE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 27 Oct 2026 story “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance.” Reason on file: Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
- MRK Merck
In “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance,” Merck (MRK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
On 27 Oct 2026, “Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance” is the story that connects Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) to this story.
What ties Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) to the headline is this: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
Also listed, Spdr Series Trust (XBI): SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “drug” (pharma and health) in this story
Dates and price levels for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
LLY traded between 1131.55 and 1321.17 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 1279.57. XBI traded between 152.63 and 158.97 across 2 sessions. The latest close on file is 154.01. XLV traded between 166.19 and 168.74 across 2 sessions. The latest close on file is 167.68.
What the saved facts support for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
54 out of 100
“Novartis books $1.9 billion hit from drug trial setback, but lifts guidance” scores 54 out of 100. The score uses 2 sources, and 6 linked companies.