Novartis

Novartis AG operates as a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation with its headquarters in Basel. The entity formed on January 1, 1996, when Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merged to create the largest corporate combination in history at that time. Its name derives from the Latin phrase nova ars, meaning new skills. The company refined its portfolio over the decades by spinning off its agrochemical division into Syngenta in 1997 and reviving the Sandoz brand in 2003 to focus exclusively on generic medicines.

Vasant Narasimhan serves as the current Chief Executive Officer after taking the helm in April 2023. He follows Joseph Jimenez, who led the company from 2014 to 2023, and Dan Vasella, who served from 1996 until 2014. Under Narasimhan's leadership, the organization has emphasized a shift toward precision medicine, gene therapies, and digital health solutions.

The firm employs over 100,000 people across more than 140 countries. Its products reach approximately 296 million patients worldwide. Novartis secured the eighth spot for revenue among global pharmaceutical companies in 2024. It trades publicly on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol NOVN and is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange. [edit]