Nov 19 (Reuters) - Novartis AG NOVN.S :
* NOVARTIS SECURES EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FOR POTENTIAL ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME CELL THERAPY
* ENTERS INTO EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE LICENSE WITH MESOBLAST TO DEVELOP, COMMERCIALIZE, MANUFACTURE REMESTEMCEL-L
* DEAL INCLUDES $50 MILLION UPFRONT CASH PAYMENT AND EQUITY/SHARE SUBSCRIPTION
* NOVARTIS INTENDS TO INITIATE A PHASE III STUDY IN NON-COVID-19-RELATED ARDS
* NOVARTIS - REMESTEMCEL-L IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED IN COVID-19-RELATED ARDS IN AN ONGOING 300-PATIENT PHASE III STUDY
* NOVARTIS - PHASE III STUDY CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH CARDIOTHORACIC SURGICAL NETWORK IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 2021