What should I know about Novartis?
Novartis is a Swiss pharmaceutical company based in Basel that researches, develops and sells prescription medicines. It was created in 1996 by the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. It separated its eye-care business Alcon in 2019 and its generics business Sandoz in 2023, and it now describes itself as a pure-play innovative medicines company. Its main areas include cancer, immune diseases, heart disease and neuroscience. In the second quarter of 2026 it reported net sales of $14.4 billion, up 3% in US dollars.
What are Novartis's main drugs?
In the second quarter of 2026 Novartis's top sellers, according to its results, were Cosentyx for psoriasis and other immune conditions ($1.8 billion), Kisqali for breast cancer ($1.7 billion, up 43% at constant exchange rates) and Kesimpta for multiple sclerosis ($1.4 billion). Pluvicto, a radioligand therapy for prostate cancer, earned $651 million, and Scemblix, for chronic myeloid leukaemia, $562 million. Other major products include the heart failure drug Entresto and the cholesterol drug Leqvio. Novartis expects 2026 net sales to grow at a low single-digit rate.
What is Novartis currently developing?
Novartis completed its acquisition of Avidity Biosciences in the first quarter of 2026, which it said strengthened its late-stage neuroscience pipeline. The same filing says ianalumab has received FDA priority review for Sjögren's disease, and results of the Phase III HARBOR study of del-desiran are expected in the second half of 2026. Recent approvals include Rhapsido for chronic spontaneous urticaria (hives) in the EU and Japan, and the Itvisma gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy in the EU.
Have there been any controversies involving Novartis?
In July 2020 Novartis agreed to pay $678 million to settle a US fraud lawsuit alleging it paid doctors through sham speaker events between 2002 and 2011 to encourage them to prescribe its heart and diabetes drugs. Novartis admitted certain conduct and accepted a five-year corporate integrity agreement. In August 2019 it disclosed that animal-testing data in its Zolgensma gene therapy application had been manipulated. It dismissed two researchers, and in April 2020 the FDA ended its investigation without penalties, saying the drug remained safe and effective.
Is Novartis publicly traded, and how big is it?
Yes. Novartis shares trade on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker NOVN), and its American depositary shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NVS). Its market value was about $258 billion on 6 October 2026, down roughly 12% over the previous month. In the second quarter of 2026 it reported net sales of $14.4 billion and core operating income of $5.9 billion. It expects core operating income to fall at a low single-digit rate in 2026.