Novartis Corporation

Novartis Corporation is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide. Novartis operates in several segments, including pharmaceuticals, eye care through its Alcon division (until its spin-off in 2019), generics and biosimilars through Sandoz, and innovative medicines. The company's focus is on areas such as cardiovascular health, oncology, dermatology, neuroscience, and immunology.

History

Novartis was formed in 1996 through the merger of two Swiss companies, Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. The merger created one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Since its inception, Novartis has been involved in developing and marketing drugs, undergoing significant transformations, including divestitures and acquisitions to focus on its core business areas.

Operations

Novartis is structured into three main divisions: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz (generics and biosimilars), and, until its spin-off, Alcon (eye care). The company has a significant global presence, with operations in more than 140 countries.

Innovative Medicines

The Innovative Medicines division focuses on the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of patented pharmaceuticals across various therapeutic areas. This division is the largest in terms of revenue and includes two business units: Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Oncology.

Sandoz

Sandoz is the generics and biosimilars division of Novartis. It offers a wide range of affordable medicines, including biosimilars, which are biologic medical products highly similar to already approved biological medicines.

Research and Development

Novartis is committed to innovation in healthcare and invests heavily in research and development (R&D). The company's R&D efforts are focused on discovering new drugs and therapies that can improve patient outcomes. Novartis has a strong pipeline of potential new drugs in various stages of clinical development.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Novartis has several programs aimed at improving access to healthcare in developing countries. The company's corporate social responsibility initiatives include drug donation programs, disease management programs, and partnerships with non-governmental organizations to improve healthcare infrastructure.

Controversies

Like many large pharmaceutical companies, Novartis has faced its share of controversies, including legal challenges and criticism over drug pricing. However, the company continues to work on improving its practices and contributing to global healthcare.

See Also

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Drug development
• Biosimilar
• Clinical trial