Mumbai: Swiss pharma giant, Novartis, has announced having successfully completed the European Union''s ''mutual recognition procedure'' (MRP) in 14 countries for its cardiac drug Diovan (valsartan) for the treatment of heart attack survivors.

Diovan, an anti-hypertensive agent, is now indicated as a potentially life-saving therapy for those at risk of a recurrent heart attack or other serious outcomes such as cardiovascular mortality, hospitalisation for heart failure, resuscitated cardiac arrest or stroke. Diovan is also being evaluated by EU regulatory authorities for people with heart failure.

"The most widely prescribed ARB globally, Diovan provides a unique range of benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease that is unlike any other agent of its class," said Joerg Reinhardt, head of development, Novartis Pharma AG. "Already trusted as a highly effective and powerful high blood pressure agent, physicians can now prescribe Diovan to help reduce mortality in patients who have suffered a heart attack."