Novartis is a pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health company. In 2008, the group achieved sales of $41bn and invested approximately $7bn in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs over 96,717 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. 
History
Novartis was created by the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz in 1996. In 2000, it spun off its crop protection and seeds sector and merged it with the agrochemicals business of AstraZeneca.
Pharmaceuticals
Novartis pharmaceuticals provide a range of prescription medicines and pursue the discovery and development of new products. It is comprised of the business units primary care, oncology, transplantation, ophthalmics, and mature products.
Primary care includes products for cardiovascular disease, central nervous system disorders, gastroenterology, dermatology, respiratory disease and the area of rheumatology/bone/hormone replacement therapy.
The Novartis oncology business unit provides a range of therapies and solutions that change the way cancer patients live. Its portfolio includes products to treat leukaemia, forms of gastrointestinal cancer (GIST), advanced or metastatic breast cancer and multiple myeloma.
Transplantation and immunology is committed to developing a new range of therapeutic products for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in order to provide the best choice of drugs to the transplant community.
Novartis ophthalmics deals with the research, development and manufacturing of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals that assist in the treatment of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), eye inflammation, ocular allergies, dry eye and other diseases and disorders of the eye.
Mature products is responsible for supporting a range of branded, mostly older products to satisfy patient needs in various therapeutic areas.
Sandoz
Sandoz, the generic pharmaceuticals division of Novartis, develops, produces and markets medicines no longer protected by patents, along with pharmaceutical and biotechnological active substances.
Consumer Health
Consumer Health Division comprises the following six business units: Sandoz (Novartis generics), over the counter (OTC), animal health, medical nutrition, infant and baby and CIBA Vision.
The global activities of Novartis Generics were united under the name Sandoz. Sandoz develops, manufactures and markets these medicines as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active ingredients.
OTC is involved in the development, production and marketing of self-medication products for the in-home treatment and prevention of medical conditions and ailments. The main product categories are cough, cold and allergy treatments, gastrointestinal treatments and dermatological treatments, topical analgesics, mineral supplements and smoking cessation treatments.
Novartis animal health focuses on the well-being of companion animals and on the health and productivity of farm animals. Most of its products are available by prescription through veterinarians.
Novartis medical nutrition offers a range of enthral nutrition medical food products and services tailored to the varying needs of patients, health professionals and carers.
The infant and baby line of products includes care and wellness products featuring baby washes, shampoos, lotions, dental care products, bottles and products for breastfeeding mothers.
CIBA Vision is concerned with research, development and manufacturing of optical and ophthalmic products and services, including contact lenses, lens care products and ophthalmic surgical products.
Vaccines and Diagnostics
Vaccines and Diagnostics Division provides products to fight more than 20 vaccine-preventable viral and bacterial diseases as well as blood-testing equipment. The Vaccines and Diagnostics Division was formed following the acquisition of Chiron in 2006.
Novartis
Strategy & Financial Highlights
The core elements of Novartis’s strategy are focused mainly on innovation and patient needs. Novartis also has a strategy of consistent investment in R&D, enabling it to bring to market innovative and differentiated products that offer patients clear therapeutic benefits.(Edited from: Annual Report). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Novartis Strategy & Financial Highlights
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