 Novartis announced on April 11, 2011 that it was discontinuing a phase III trial of nilotinib as the first-line treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee.Interim results showed Tasigna is unlikely to demonstrate superiority compared to Novartis's Gleevec (imatinib)*, the current standard of care in this setting.Low dose nilotinib is also being investigated for use for and Alzheimer's disease, as well as for ALS, dementia and Huntington's disease.