March 10, 2010
Novartis announces USD 5 billion bond issue
Basel, March 10, 2010 - Novartis announced today a USD 5 billion bond market transaction consisting of three tranches:
- USD 2 billion 1.900% Notes due April 24, 2013
- USD 2 billion 2.900% Notes due April 24, 2015
- USD 1 billion 4.400% Notes due April 24, 2020
February 26, 2010
Shareholders approve all proposed resolutions of Novartis Board of Directors
Dividend increased to CHF 2.10 per share for 2009 (+5%), representing a payout of 55% of net income from continuing operations, marking thirteenth consecutive increase in the dividend per share since the creation of Novartis in 1996
Novartis reaffirms underlying Group net sales growth outlook
Novartis shareholders approve the introduction of a consultative vote on the compensation system
Mr. Hans-Joerg Rudloff, Dr. Daniel Vasella and Mrs. Marjorie Yang re-elected to the Novartis Board of Directors
February 22, 2010
Novartis oral multiple sclerosis development compound Gilenia®* (FTY720) granted US priority review status
- US Food and Drug Administration grants priority review status after accepting US regulatory submission for 0.5 mg once-daily Gilenia (fingolimod)
- US and European Union regulatory submissions completed in December 2009 for Gilenia include more than 4,000 patient years of clinical trial data
February 22, 2010
Novartis receives FDA approval of Menveo®, a vaccine to prevent meningococcal disease
- Menveo licensed in 11-55 year olds to help protect against potentially deadly meningitis and sepsis caused by four common vaccine-preventable serogroups[1]
- Meningococcal disease causes approximately 50,000 deaths globally each year, many of which could be prevented through vaccines[2]
- Novartis plans to seek licensure of Menveo in infants and children 2-10 years of age
February 19, 2010
Novartis drug Tasigna® receives FDA priority review for newly diagnosed patients with early-stage chronic myeloid leukemia
- Study results show Tasigna exceeds Glivec® in every measure of efficacy in the trial including prevention of disease progression at 12 months[1]
- Regulatory applications underway worldwide for Tasigna in the first-line indication with submissions now filed in the US, EU and Japan
- Tasigna, if approved, will be first treatment since Glivec for newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia patients in chronic phase
February 09, 2010
Novartis gains exclusive rights to Debio 025, an antiviral agent in Phase IIb development as potential first-in-class hepatitis C therapy
- Phase II results demonstrate efficacy of Debio 025, a cyclophilin inhibitor, against hepatitis C virus when used alone or in combination with current standard therapy1
- Cyclophilin inhibitors evolving as new class of medicines with potential to become part of future standard of care for treating hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C is one of the world's most common liver diseases, current therapies may only be effective in around 50% of patients2
- Novartis to make upfront payment to Debiopharm Group(TM), with Debiopharm eligible for milestones and royalties on future sales
January 26, 2010
Novartis achieves record results in 2009 as momentum from recently launched products drives growth across its entire healthcare portfolio
January 20, 2010
Novartis oral MS therapy FTY720 shows reduced risk of confirmed disability progression as published in New England Journal of Medicine
- Combined data from TRANSFORMS and FREEDOMS studies show significant efficacy in reducing relapses, disability progression and MRI lesions in MS
- In FREEDOMS, FTY720 0.5 mg dose reduced the risk of 3-month and 6-month confirmed disability progression by 30% and 37% over two years versus placebo
- FTY720 clinical program provides safety experience in over 2,300 MS patients, including some patients in their sixth year of therapy
- Robust clinical trial program strengthens potential for oral FTY720 to be the first approved product in new therapeutic class called S1P receptor modulators
- FTY720 0.5 mg dose submitted for regulatory approval in US and EU in December 2009
January 20, 2010
Three new Novartis medicines approved in Japan for patients with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and advanced kidney cancer
- Equa®, Exforge® and Afinitor® provide new treatment options for unmet medical needs
- Three major approvals for innovative medicines to treat serious and life-threatening diseases affecting millions of Japanese patients
- Approvals follow six product launches in 2009, reinforcing the strong presence of Novartis in Japan, the company's second-largest pharmaceutical market
January 18, 2010
Novartis providing equivalent of over USD 2.5 million in immediate emergency aid for victims of Haiti earthquake
Support includes direct financial assistance to relief organizations and donation of essential medicines, including antibiotic and pain relieving drugs
Employees encouraged to make personal contributions to nationally recognized relief organizations to be matched with company funds
