Novartis headquarter, Basel

Novartis Italy headquarter, Milan

Functional genomics research

Novartis is a world leader in healthcare, in the research and development of products to protect and improve health and well-being. Operating through 360 affiliates in 140 countries, Novartis offers its products and services through its sectors: Pharmaceuticals (innovative prescription medication - the pipeline includes a broad stream of promising future products, with 50 development projects in Phase II and beyond); Generics (antibiotics, cardiovascular and central nervous systems drugs, hormonal preparations); Consumer Health (nutritional and self-medication products); CIBA Vision (products for vision corrections and ocular health); Animal Health (products for the well-being of companion farm animals).

In 2001, the Group's businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.0 billion (USD 19.1 billion) and a net income of CHF 7.0 billion (USD 4.2 billion). The Group invested approximately CHF 4.2 billion (USD 2.5 billion) in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 74,000 people. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com.


Novartis Italy plays a leading role in the Novartis Group, one of the world leaders, both in terms of sales and innovation, in its ongoing core businesses: pharmaceuticals, generics, consumer health, eye-care and animal health with global sales of euros 21,7 billion. In Italy Novartis achieved sales of euros 876 million in 2001 (+13% vs. 2000) and Italy is the fifth country in the Group's ranking; thanks to a strong investment plan, Torre Annunziata and Rovereto facilities are now among the most important productive sites in the world. Very significant is also the role played by Italy in the clinical research: the country is second only to the United States for the number, the quality and the rapidity of trials.

The Group is organized in six independent companies (Novartis Farma, GNR, Novartis Consumer Health, Ciba Vision, Biochemie e Animal Health), each of one works in a specific business sector. Novartis Farma (pharmaceuticals) contributes for two thirds of the Group total sales in Italy and, through its Business Units, is active in the most important therapeutic areas (cardiovascular, metabolism and endocrinology / oncology / central nervous system / transplantation, immunology / dermatology / respiratory / rheuma, bone and hormone replacement therapy / ophthalmics).

Headquartered in Origgio, near Milan, Novartis Italy employs more than 2.000 people, in research, production, marketing and distribution activities.

 [link: The Human Brain Conference 2002  http://www.thehumanbrain.org ]