| |APRIL 20268NOVARTIS TO PRESENT NEW DERMATOLOGY DATA AT AAD 2026Novartis is preparing to share new clinical findings at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting 2026, focusing on treatments for chronic skin conditions and how patients respond over time.The company will present more than 20 abstracts from its immunology portfolio, highlighting progress in treating diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and psoriasis treatment. The data reflects Novartis' continued efforts to improve care for people living with long-term inflammatory skin disorders.One of the key highlights includes new data on remibrutinib, which shows patients with CSU experienced relief from itching and hives as early as the first week of treatment. This early response could make a meaningful difference for patients who struggle with persistent symptoms.Novartis will also share updated findings on Cosentyx (secukinumab), focusing on its ability to help prevent flare-ups in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. In addition, long-term data from clinical trialsspanning up to five years will be presented, showing sustained effectiveness in managing both HS and psoriasis.According to the company, these results demonstrate not only the effectiveness of its treatments but also their potential to deliver lasting benefits. The presentations are expected to provide healthcare professionals with deeper insights into how these therapies perform in real-world settings.Novartis emphasized that its goal is to develop treatments that offer both fast symptom relief and long-term disease control. With a growing pipeline in immunology, the company continues to focus on improving patient outcomes and quality of life for those dealing with chronic skin diseases.The upcoming AAD meeting will serve as an important platform for sharing these developments with the global dermatology community. POTOP STORIESSOMERSET INDUS CLOSES $288M FUND III FOR HEALTHCARE IMPACTSomerset Indus Capital Partners has successfully closed its third fund at nearly USD 288 million, surpassing the planned USD 250 million, reflecting strong investor confidence in its healthcare-focused, impact-driven strategy.The oversubscribed Fund III attracted a diverse mix of global institutional investors, including development finance institutions, investment firms, insurers, and family offices from Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia.High re-up rates from existing backers, alongside new marquee investors, highlight faith in Somerset's "Capital for Change" approach. The fund will focus on addressing India's healthcare access gap for the "missing middle," particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities.Capital will be deployed in scalable businesses across healthcare delivery, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, and allied sectors, with investment sizes typically ranging from USD 15­40 million and the ability to co-invest up to USD 60­80 million for larger opportunities.Fund III is already active with three investments: Cyrix Healthcare, Printmann Offset, and NU Hospitals, each showing early positive performance.Somerset aims to drive transformative growth in preventive care, OPD-linked insurance, healthcare financing, embedded insurance, generics, MedTech innovation, and diagnostics platforms to expand access beyond metro markets.Somerset's track record reinforces investor confidence: Fund I delivered roughly 4.0x DPI, while Fund II is approaching exits, with the first realization in September 2025 achieving approximately 4x MOIC.According to Avinash Kenkare and Mayur Sirdesai, partners at Somerset, Fund III positions the firm to deepen its presence in underserved markets and partner with entrepreneurs building scalable healthcare platforms, delivering measurable social impact alongside sustainable financial returns. PO
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