Basel, January 27, 2016 – Novartis delivered strong sales growth and core margin expansion (cc[1]) in 2015; announces plans to accelerate growth at Alcon, streamline Group operations

• Strong growth (cc) in full year sales, core operating income and core EPS[2]
  • Net sales up 5% (cc) and core operating income up 10% (cc)
  • Core operating income margin up 1.3 percentage points (cc)
  • Operating income (-2% cc) down mainly due to amortization of the new oncology assets
  • Net income (-18% cc) impacted by exceptional gains in …

Holzkirchen, 25 January, 2016 – Sandoz, a Novartis company and the global leader in biosimilars, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd for the distribution and promotion of its biosimilar rituximab – a monoclonal antibody, in Japan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sandoz will file for marketing authorization of biosimilar rituximab and its manufacture if approved. Kyowa Hakko Kirin will be responsible for all sales, marketing and promotion activities in Japan.

Kyowa Hakko Kirin will pay Sandoz …