Novartis says "deep regret" over Japan drug trials scandal

By Sophie Knight TOKYO (Reuters) – The pharmaceutical head at Swiss firm Novartis AG apologized to the Japanese public for alleged manipulation of data in trials of its best-selling blood pressure drug Diovan, saying an employee had acted inappropriately. Divisional head David Epstein made the comments after meeting with Japanese health minister Norihisa Tamura in Tokyo. He agreed to cooperate with the ministry to resolve the issue. “We express our deep regret for the concern that the issue has brought to patients, to the medical society as well as the ministry,” Epstein said. …