FRANKFURT, Nov 28 Reuters Novartis has dialled up its sales growth target to 5 per year until 2027, citing demand for innovative drugs after the spin off of its generics business.

The mediumterm target, which excludes any foreign exchange effects, is mainly driven by six drugs, led by Kisqali, the Swiss drugmaker said in a presentation on Tuesday.

The breast cancer drug was shown this year to help a wider patient group in a study, a major win for CEO Vas Narasimhan, and Novartis said it saw peak annual sales potential of more than 3 billion for the drug.

The sales forecast, up from a previous revenue growth target of 4 through 2027, is also underpinned by demand for Pluvicto, a precision radiotherapy against prostate cancer, and selfadministered multiple sclerosis MS shot Kesimpta.

Last month, the Baselbased drugmaker spun off and listed generic drugs business Sandoz and raised its 2023 earnings forecast for the third time, citing cost cuts and higherthanforecast prices for the MS drug.

It said it was confident about midsingle digit percentage sales growth beyond 2027, banking on peak annual sales of more than 3 billion of iptacopan, a drug candidate trialled against rare blood and kidney disorders.

Novartis ascribed the same sales potential to remibrutinib, which is being tested against a range of autoimmune conditions.

The group39;s shares were up 0.4 at the open as scepticism over longterm growth prospects prevailed.

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