(Reuters) – Core operating income at Novartis edged 3% higher in the first quarter as sales growth from new drugs was partly offset by unfavourable currency effects. Quarterly core operating income rose to $4.08 billion, up from $3.96 billion a year earlier, the Swiss drugmaker said on Tuesday. Quarterly revenues from arthritis and psoriasis drug Cosentyx gained 12% in constant currencies to $1.16 billion, slightly below-above analysts’ average forecast of $1.19 billion, based on Refinitiv data. Revenues from heart failure treatment Entresto jumped 42% to $1.1 billion, surpassing the market co…