Novartis AG stands as one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the company focuses on developing medicines for cardiovascular, immunology, neuroscience, and respiratory conditions.
The company formed in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. This deal ranked as the largest corporate merger at that time. Novartis now operates in over 140 countries and maintains a pipeline of treatments across multiple therapeutic areas.
In October 2023, Novartis completed the spin-off of its Sandoz generics division. The company now operates as a focused innovative medicines business with four core therapeutic priorities and strong research capabilities.
Novartis History
Novartis Co-founders
Novartis Revenue
Novartis generated $51.72 billion in revenue during 2024, up 10.85% from the previous year. The pharmaceutical segment drives nearly all revenue following the Sandoz spin-off. Key growth products include treatments for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and immunology conditions.
Novartis Market Cap
Novartis holds a market capitalization of approximately $253.58 billion as of December 2025. This places the company as the 57th most valuable globally. The stock trades on both the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
Novartis Acquisitions
Novartis has grown through strategic acquisitions that expanded its therapeutic capabilities and geographic reach. The company targets businesses with strong research pipelines and complementary technologies.
In 2006, Novartis acquired Chiron Corporation to strengthen its vaccines and diagnostics portfolio. The company sold its Gerber baby food business to Nestlé in 2007 for $5.5 billion. This divestiture allowed Novartis to focus on its core pharmaceutical operations.
The Alcon eye care acquisition represented Novartis’s largest deal. Between 2008 and 2011, the company invested approximately $60 billion to gain full ownership. Alcon operated as a division until its spin-off as a separate company in April 2019.
In 2012, Novartis purchased Fougera Pharmaceuticals for $1.525 billion, becoming the largest manufacturer of generic skin care medicines. The company acquired Endocyte for $2.1 billion in 2018 to expand its radiopharmaceuticals business targeting prostate cancer.
Recent acquisitions focus on expanding the pipeline. In June 2023, Novartis acquired Chinook Therapeutics for its kidney disease drug candidates. DTx Pharma followed in July 2023, bringing RNA-based therapy technology. In 2024, the company entered a $3 billion collaboration with Dren Bio for cancer treatments and announced plans to acquire Anthos Therapeutics for $925 million in early 2025.
Novartis Competitors
Novartis competes with major global pharmaceutical companies across oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. The industry features intense research competition and patent challenges from generic manufacturers.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | United States | Vaccines, Oncology, Immunology |
| Roche | Switzerland | Oncology, Diagnostics |
| Johnson and Johnson | United States | Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices |
| Merck | United States | Oncology, Vaccines |
| Sanofi | France | Vaccines, Immunology |
| AstraZeneca | United Kingdom | Oncology, Respiratory |
| GlaxoSmithKline | United Kingdom | Vaccines, Respiratory |
| AbbVie | United States | Immunology, Oncology |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | United States | Oncology, Cardiovascular |
| Bayer | Germany | Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health |
FAQs
When was Novartis founded?
Novartis was created in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, both Swiss pharmaceutical companies with origins dating back to the 1700s and 1800s.
Where is Novartis headquartered?
Novartis AG maintains its global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. The company also operates major research facilities in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
What does Novartis manufacture?
Novartis develops and manufactures prescription medicines for cardiovascular, immunology, neuroscience, and respiratory conditions. Key products include treatments for cancer and blood disorders.
What happened to Sandoz?
Novartis spun off Sandoz as a separate publicly traded company in October 2023. Sandoz now operates independently as a global generic and biosimilars medicines company.
How many employees does Novartis have?
Novartis employs approximately 75,883 people globally. The company operates in over 140 countries with research and manufacturing facilities across multiple continents.