In a sign that Novartis AG’s R&D strategy is bearing fruit, the company said that Ilaris, a drug it brought to market two years ago to treat a rare inflammatory disease, appears to work in a more common condition—a type of arthritis—caused by the same bodily triggers.
The Swiss drug giant has requested regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe to sell Ilaris for the new condition, which could help broaden sales.
