# Novartis

> Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical corporation

**Wikidata**: [Q507154](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q507154)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novartis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/novartis

## Summary
Novartis is a Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical corporation founded in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, it operates globally, developing and marketing pharmaceuticals, including gene therapies and medications for cancer, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases. Novartis is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and employs over 119,418 people worldwide.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: January 1, 1996, through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz.
- **Headquarters**: Basel, Switzerland.
- **Employees**: 119,418 (as of latest data).
- **Net Profit**: $8.2 billion.
- **Subsidiaries**: Sandoz (pharmaceuticals, founded 1886), Alcon (medical devices, founded 1945), and Avidity Biosciences (biotech).
- **Stock Listings**: Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
- **CEO**: Vasant Narasimhan (Indian-American physician and business executive).
- **Key Products**: Diclofenac, terbinafine, tisagenlecleucel (CAR-T therapy), inclisiran (cholesterol treatment), and gene therapies like voretigene neparvovec.
- **Prizes**: Novartis Prizes for Immunology (established 1990), including awards for Clinical and Basic Immunology (both 1992).
- **Indices**: Part of the Swiss Market Index (SMI), representing 20 major Swiss companies.

## FAQs
- **What are Novartis's key subsidiaries?**  
  Novartis owns Sandoz (generic pharmaceuticals), Alcon (ophthalmology and medical devices), and Avidity Biosciences (RNA therapeutics).

- **Where is Novartis listed on stock exchanges?**  
  Novartis is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

- **Who are notable leaders of Novartis?**  
  Current CEO Vasant Narasimhan, former CEOs Joseph Jimenez and Dan Vasella, and affiliated researchers like Rino Rappuoli and Albert Hofmann.

- **What major drugs has Novartis developed?**  
  Notable products include tisagenlecleucel (leukemia treatment), inclisiran (cholesterol), and gene therapies like voretigene neparvovec for inherited retinal disease.

- **What awards does Novartis sponsor?**  
  The Novartis Prizes for Immunology (1990), Clinical Immunology (1992), and Basic Immunology (1992), recognizing advancements in immunology research.

## Why It Matters
Novartis is a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, driving advancements in oncology, immunology, and gene therapy. Its research and development efforts have led to breakthrough treatments for cancer (e.g., tisagenlecleucel), rare diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. As a major employer and contributor to the Swiss and global economies, Novartis shapes healthcare practices worldwide through its diverse portfolio and commitment to scientific excellence.

## Notable For
- **First approved CAR-T therapy in the U.S. and EU**: Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) for B-cell leukemia.
- **Pioneering gene therapies**: Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) for inherited blindness and onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) for spinal muscular atrophy.
- **Immunology research prizes**: Established in 1990 and 1992 to recognize scientific contributions.
- **Inclusion in the Swiss Market Index (SMI)**: Reflecting its economic significance in Switzerland.
- **Diverse product pipeline**: Spanning oncology, immunology, and rare diseases, with a focus on targeted therapies.

## Body

### History
Novartis was formed on January 1, 1996, through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, two Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical companies. This merger created one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical entities. Preceding companies like Sandoz (founded 1886) contributed to Novartis’s early product portfolio, including the development of diclofenac and terbinafine.

### Subsidiaries & Operations
- **Sandoz**: Acquired in 1996, Sandoz operates as Novartis’s generic pharmaceutical division, producing affordable medications globally. Founded in 1886, it employs 5,724 people.
- **Alcon**: A medical device company founded in 1945, specializing in eye care and surgical products. Novartis acquired full ownership in 2019.
- **Avidity Biosciences**: A U.S.-based biotech company focused on RNA therapeutics, acquired to expand Novartis’s capabilities in nucleic acid medicines.

### Leadership
- **Vasant Narasimhan**: CEO since 2018, leading Novartis’s strategic focus on innovation and digital transformation.
- **Joseph Jimenez**: Served as CEO from 2010 to 2018, overseeing major reorganizations and product launches.
- **Dan Vasella**: First CEO of Novartis (1996–2010), instrumental in shaping the company’s post-merger identity.

### Products & Innovations
- **Oncology**: Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah), a CAR-T therapy for leukemia; midostaurin for leukemia; and lutetium vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) for prostate cancer.
- **Gene Therapy**: Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) for inherited retinal disease and onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) for spinal muscular atrophy.
- **Cardiovascular & Immunology**: Siponimod (Mayzent) for multiple sclerosis; inclisiran (Leqvio) for cholesterol reduction; and difluprednate (Durezol) for eye inflammation.
- **Generics**: Sandoz produces affordable versions of medications like amlodipine/valsartan for hypertension.

### Prizes & Recognition
- **Novartis Prizes for Immunology**: Established in 1990 to honor contributions to immunology, with separate awards for clinical and basic research (1992).
- **Portland Press Excellence in Science Award**: Sponsored by the Biochemical Society, recognizing scientific achievements in the UK.

### Stock Listings & Indices
- **Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX)**: Primary listing since 1996.
- **New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)**: Listed under the ticker NVS.
- **Swiss Market Index (SMI)**: Included as one of the 20 largest Swiss companies by market capitalization.

### Affiliated Entities & People
- **FC Basel**: A Swiss football club based in Basel, sharing the city with Novartis’s headquarters.
- **Notable Researchers**: Albert Hofmann (chemist known for LSD discovery) and Rino Rappuoli (pioneer in vaccine development) have collaborated with or influenced Novartis’s research.

### Headquarters & Global Presence
- **Basel, Switzerland**: Novartis’s global headquarters, situated in a major European pharmaceutical hub.
- **Global Operations**: With employees in over 100 countries, Novartis conducts research, manufacturing, and sales worldwide, emphasizing emerging markets and high-income regions.

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