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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-024138.txt : 20090415
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-024138.hdr.sgml : 20090415
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090415061120
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-024138
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090408
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090415
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090415

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVARTIS AG
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001114448
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15024
		FILM NUMBER:		09749765

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LICHSTRASSE 35
		CITY:			BASEL SWITZERLAND
		STATE:			V8
		ZIP:			CH 4056

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LICHSTRASSE 35
		CITY:			BASEL SWITZERLAND
		ZIP:			CH 4056
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>6-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a09-10194_16k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>6-K
<TEXT>

<html>

<head>





</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<div style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-right:none;border-top:solid windowtext 3.0pt;padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;">

<p align="left" style="border:none;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:left;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:normal;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

</div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">FORM&nbsp;6-K</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">REPORT OF
FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">PURSUANT TO
RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Report on
Form&nbsp;6-K dated April&nbsp;8, 2009</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(Commission File No.&nbsp;</font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1-15024)</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">Novartis AG</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:normal;">(Name of Registrant)</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Lichtstrasse
35</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">4056
Basel</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Switzerland</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of
Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check mark
whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form&nbsp;20-F
or Form&nbsp;40-F:</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="30%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:30.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Form&nbsp;20-F:
  </font></b><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="10%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:10.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;40-F: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check
mark if the registrant is submitting the Form&nbsp;6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule&nbsp;101(b)(1):</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="30%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:30.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="10%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:10.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check
mark if the registrant is submitting the Form&nbsp;6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule&nbsp;101(b)(7):</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="30%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:30.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="10%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:10.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check
mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this
form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule&nbsp;12g3-2(b)&nbsp;under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="30%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:30.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="10%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:10.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 3.0pt;border-left:none;border-right:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;">

<p style="border:none;color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\105589\09-10194-1\task3488352\10194-1-ba.htm',USER='105589',CD='Apr 15 14:29 2009' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="68%" rowspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:68.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="192" height="41" src="g101941bai001.jpg"></font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Novartis
  International AG</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis
  Global Communications</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CH-4002 Basel</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Switzerland</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">http://www.novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="68%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:68.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="color:windowtext;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">-
  Investor Relations Release -</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Coartem</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:bold;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">&#174;</font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;receives FDA approval becoming first
artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria in the US</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Coartem is highly effective, well tolerated 3-day
treatment with cure rates of over 96%</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">More than 235 million Coartem treatments already
supplied by Novartis for public sector use in Africa, helping save an estimated
600,000 lives</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .75in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Basel, April&nbsp;8,
2009</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> &#151; Coartem</font><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">&#174;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;(artemether 20 mg/lumefantrine 120 mg), the
leading artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria worldwide,
has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Coartem
is a fixed-dose combination of two novel antimalarials. It is a
highly-effective three-day malaria treatment with cure rates of over 96%(1)&nbsp;even
in areas of multi-drug resistance(1),(2).</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Each
year millions of Americans travel to malaria-endemic regions on business or
pleasure, and this has led to a rise in cases of &#145;travelers malaria&#146;(3). Unlike
patients in more than 80 countries, including in many European nations, US
patients have not had access to ACTs like Coartem.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;Around
the world, Coartem has eliminated suffering for millions and saved lives for hundreds
of thousands of malaria patients,&#148; said Dr.&nbsp;Daniel Vasella, Chairman and
CEO of Novartis. &#147;With a growing number of malaria cases in the US due to
rising travel, it is important to make ACT treatment such as Coartem, the most
effective therapy for malaria, available to American patients as well.</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#148;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Each
year there are nearly one million malaria-related deaths around the world. In
Africa alone, a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria(4). To help alleviate
the tremendous problem of access to treatment, Novartis provides Coartem
treatments for public sector use in Africa without profit. To date, Novartis
has provided more than 235 million Coartem treatments, which have helped save
an estimated 600,000 lives - mostly children.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;Fighting
malaria is very much in America&#146;s interest and ACTs such as Coartem are
important weapons against this infectious disease,&#148; said Rear Admiral Tim
Ziemer, US Malaria Coordinator. &#147;We welcome FDA approval of Coartem.&#148;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In
the US, Coartem will be made available through pharmacies and hospitals.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Coartem
is indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated infections due to <i>plasmodium falciparum</i>, the most dangerous
form of malaria.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="left"></div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)&nbsp;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Cure rates are PCR-corrected in the mITT
population. For full details see reference.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Disclaimer</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
foregoing release contains certain forward-looking statements that can be
identified by terminology such as &#147;estimated,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; , or similar
expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential
additional marketing approvals for Coartem or regarding potential future
revenues from Coartem. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.
Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company
regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results with Coartem to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Coartem will be approved
for sale in any additional market. Nor can there be any guarantee that Coartem
will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular,
management&#146;s expectations regarding Coartem could be affected by, among other
things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical
data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected
regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company&#146;s
ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property
protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public
pricing pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the
values attributed to the Novartis Group&#146;s assets and liabilities as recorded in
the Group&#146;s consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to
in Novartis AG&#146;s current Form&nbsp;20-F on file with the US Securities and
Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and
does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">About
Novartis</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis
AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients
and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified
portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, preventive vaccines,
diagnostic tools, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals and consumer health
products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas.
In 2008, the Group&#146;s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5
billion and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was
invested in R&amp;D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel,
Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 96,700
full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="left"></div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">References</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Hatz C. et al. Treatment of
  acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria with arthemeter-lumefantrine in non
  immune populations: a safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic study.
  Am.J.Trop.Med.Hyg. 2008</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Abdulla S. et al. Efficacy and
  safety of arthemeter-lumefantrine dispersible tablets compared with crushed
  commercial tablets in African infants and children with uncomplicated
  malaria: a randomised, single blind, multicentre trial. Lancet . Published on
  line.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Malaria Surveillance Report,
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">June&nbsp;20, 2008 /
  57(SS05);24-39,
  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5705a2.htm?s_cid=ss5705a2_e</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(4)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Children and Malaria. World
  Health Organization Roll Back Malaria Web site. Available at :
  http://www.rbm.who.int/cmc_upload/0/000/015/367/RBMInfosheet_6.pdf.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(5)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="96%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Malaria Fact Sheet. World
  Health Organization Web site. Available at :
  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheet/fs094/en/.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 9.0pt;text-indent:-9.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 9.0pt;text-indent:-9.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;"># # #</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Novartis Media Relations</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Central media line&nbsp;:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> +41 61 324 2200</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Eric
  Althoff</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Peter
  Shelby</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis
  Global Media Relations</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis
  Pharma Communications</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 7999 (direct)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 4470<b>  </b>(direct)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.84%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)</font></p>
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  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 79 597 6353 (mobile)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">eric.althoff@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.16%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">peter.shelby@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e-mail:
media.relations@novartis.com</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Novartis Investor Relations</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Central phone:</font></b></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 7944</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ruth Metzler-Arnold</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:29.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 9980</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">North America:</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pierre-Michel Bringer</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 1065</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Richard Jarvis</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+1 212 830 2433</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="21%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John Gilardi</font></p>
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  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:29.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 3018</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Jill Pozarek</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+1 212 830 2445</font></p>
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 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="21%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Thomas Hungerbuehler</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 8425</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Edwin Valeriano</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+1 212 830 2456</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Isabella Zinck</font></p>
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  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 7188</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.18%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="21%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:29.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.18%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e-mail:
  investor.relations@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e-mail:
  investor.relations@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\105589\09-10194-1\task3488352\10194-1-ba.htm',USER='105589',CD='Apr 15 14:29 2009' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Novartis AG</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">April&nbsp;8,
  2009</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.42%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.34%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ MALCOLM B.
  CHEETHAM</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.42%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.34%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.42%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.34%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Malcolm B.
  Cheetham</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.42%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.34%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Head Group
  Financial Reporting and Accounting</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\105589\09-10194-1\task3488352\10194-1-ba.htm',USER='105589',CD='Apr 15 14:29 2009' -->


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