Novartis ready to start its engines for 'most exciting launch' in company history

Pharma executives tend to be circumspect when they talk about drug launches. After all, we've seen CEOs predict big things, only to be assaulted later by a pitchfork-toting mob. Plus, there's the don't-jinx-it school of thought. Apparently, neither worry applies to Novartis ($NVS) pharma chief David Epstein--at least when he's talking about the company's new heart failure drug LCZ696, which wowed folks at the European Society of Cardiology meeting over the weekend. Report