Novartis (NYSE:NVS) is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel that researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and related health-care products. Formed through the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis operates globally and focuses on bringing therapeutics from discovery through clinical development to commercial markets worldwide.
The company’s activities center on innovative pharmaceuticals across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and ophthalmology, alongside capabilities in advanced therapies such as biologics, cell and gene therapies. Novartis has historically included generics and biosimilars through the Sandoz business and previously separated its eye-care business, Alcon, as an independent company; its portfolio and organizational structure have evolved through acquisitions, divestitures and strategic partnerships.
Research and development is a core part of Novartis’s operating model, with sustained investment in early-stage discovery, clinical trials and regulatory submissions. The company leverages a mix of small-molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies, novel platforms and digital-health initiatives to advance its pipeline and to support commercialization in markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions.
Novartis is publicly traded and reports under the ticker NVS on the New York Stock Exchange as well as on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company is led by Chief Executive Officer Vas Narasimhan and maintains a global leadership and research footprint intended to accelerate development of new therapies and expand patient access to approved medicines.
