Sandoz

Sandoz is a pharmaceutical company and a subsidiary of the Swiss multinational Novartis. It is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs in the world. Sandoz was founded in 1886 by Dr. Alfred Kern and Edouard Sandoz in Basel, Switzerland. The company initially produced dyes and in 1895, it began to manufacture pharmaceuticals.

History[edit | edit source]

Sandoz's history dates back to 1886 when Kern and Sandoz established a small chemical company in Basel. The company initially focused on producing dyes but later expanded into pharmaceuticals. In 1895, Sandoz produced its first pharmaceutical product, an antipyrine, a fever-reducing drug.

In the 20th century, Sandoz made significant contributions to the development of antibiotics, including the discovery of the first sulfa drug, a class of antibiotics that includes sulfamethoxazole. In the 1950s, Sandoz was one of the early pioneers in the development of psychotropic drugs, including the first commercially available antipsychotic, chlorpromazine.

In 1996, Sandoz merged with Ciba-Geigy, another Swiss pharmaceutical company, to form Novartis. Today, Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars.

Products[edit | edit source]

Sandoz's product portfolio includes a wide range of generic drugs and biosimilars. The company's products cover a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, respiratory diseases, and rheumatology. Sandoz also produces biosimilars, which are highly similar versions of approved biologic drugs.

Research and Development[edit | edit source]

Sandoz's research and development activities focus on developing high-quality, affordable medicines that address unmet patient needs. The company's R&D efforts are particularly focused on biosimilars and complex generics.