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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-030668.txt : 20090508
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-030668.hdr.sgml : 20090508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090508060648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-030668
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090508

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:		09807721

	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>a09-12880_16k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>6-K
<TEXT>

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<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>

<div style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-right:none;border-top:solid windowtext 3.0pt;color:black;font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;text-autospace:none;">

<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;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;">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="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="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 May&nbsp;7, 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>

<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 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 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>

<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;">Form&nbsp;20-F: </font></b><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Form&nbsp;40-F: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</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>

<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>

<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;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>No</b>:&nbsp; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</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>

<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>

<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;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>No</b>:&nbsp; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</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>

<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>

<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;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>No</b>:&nbsp; </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</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 style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 3.0pt;border-left:none;border-right:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;color:black;font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in;text-autospace:none;">

<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 style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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

<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="28%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:28.4%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="192" height="41" src="g128801bai001.jpg"></font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="39%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.06%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.54%;">
  <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<br>
  </font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis Global Communications<br>
  </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CH-4002 Basel</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br>
  </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Switzerland<br>
  </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">http://www.novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&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;">- Investor
Relations Release -</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 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;">Glivec</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;approved in EU as first post-surgery therapy
to reduce risk of cancer returning in patients with aggressive gastrointestinal
tumors</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 .5in;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;">Post-surgery
use of Glivec shown to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal stromal tumors
(GIST) returning by 89%(1)</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;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 .5in;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;">GIST
are a rare, aggressive and potentially deadly type of cancer(2),(3)</font></i></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Basel, May&nbsp;7, 2009<i> &#151; </i></font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Glivec</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;(imatinib)* received approval from the
European Commission (EC) to become the first and only treatment available in
Europe to reduce the risk of recurrence in adult patients who are at
significant risk of relapse following surgery to remove gastrointestinal
stromal tumors (GIST).</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A
rare, life-threatening cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, GIST are known to
be aggressive(2),(3), returning in as many as half of all patients(4)&nbsp;within
a median of two years after initial surgery(2). However, data from a pivotal
Phase III study recently found that when patients with GIST were treated with
post-surgery, or adjuvant, Glivec, the risk of recurrence was reduced by 89%(1).</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
EC decision applies in all 27 European Union (EU) member states, plus Norway
and Iceland. The approval represents the tenth indication for Glivec in the EU
and follows recent approvals for similar indications in the US, Switzerland and
several other countries(5).</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;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;The
approval of Glivec for post-surgery GIST means that for the first time,
patients in Europe with this life-threatening disease will have a treatment
option that can significantly reduce their risk of GIST coming back after
surgery,&#148; said Alessandro Riva, MD, Executive Vice President, Global Head,
Novartis Oncology Development.</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:black;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Study details</font></b></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
EU approval is based on Phase III data from a double-blind, randomized,
multicenter study of 713 GIST patients throughout the US and Canada whose
tumors had been surgically removed. The study, conducted by the American
College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG), compared the recurrence-free
survival of patients taking either Glivec 400 mg daily or placebo for one year
immediately following surgery. The results showed that 98% of the patients receiving
Glivec remained recurrence-free after one year compared with approximately 82%
of those receiving placebo (P&lt;0.0001). Therefore, the risk of recurrence was
reduced by approximately 89% with Glivec as compared to placebo(1).</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
investigators reported that Glivec therapy was well tolerated by most patients,
with side effects similar to those observed in previous clinical trials. These
side effects include nausea, diarrhea and swelling (edema)(1).</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>

<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;">2</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;">About gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)</font></b></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;">GIST belong to a group of cancers known as soft
tissue sarcomas(2). The most common sarcomas, they can be found most often in
the stomach and small bowel(2). In the EU, the incidence of GIST is estimated
to be more than 5,000 cases per year(6),(7), of which approximately 95% are
Kit-positive(2). Kit is the protein that, when mutated, has been identified as
one of the major causes of GIST. Glivec inhibits the activity of Kit, as well
as several other proteins(2).</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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">About Glivec</font></b></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;">Glivec is approved in more than 90 countries
including the US, EU and Japan, for the treatment of all phases of Ph+ chronic
myeloid leukemia (CML). Glivec is also approved in the US, EU and other
countries for the treatment of patients with Kit (CD117)-positive
gastrointestinal tumors (GIST), which cannot be surgically removed and/or have
already spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). In the US and EU,
Glivec is now approved for the post-surgery treatment of adult patients following
complete surgical removal of Kit (CD117)-positive gastrointestinal stromal
tumors. In the EU, Glivec is also approved for the treatment of adult patients
with newly diagnosed Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in combination
with chemotherapy and as a single agent for patients with relapsed or
refractory Ph+ ALL. Glivec is also approved for the treatment of adult patients
with unresectable, recurrent and/or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
(DFSP) who are not eligible for surgery and for the treatment of patients with
myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD). In addition, Glivec is
approved for hypereosinophilic syndrome and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia
(HES/CEL).</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 style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
effectiveness of Glivec is based on overall hematological and cytogenetic
response rates and progression-free survival in CML; on hematological and
cytogenetic response rates in Ph+ ALL and MDS/MPD; on hematological response
rates in systemic mastocytosis (SM) and HES/CEL; on objective response rates
and progression-free survival in unresectable and/or metastatic GIST; on
recurrence-free survival in adjuvant GIST and on objective response rates in
DFSP. Increased survival in controlled trials has been demonstrated only in
newly diagnosed chronic phase CML and GIST.</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not
all indications are available in every country.</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;">Important safety information</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
majority of patients treated with Glivec in clinical trials experienced adverse
events at some time. Most events were of mild to moderate grade and treatment
discontinuation was not necessary in the majority of cases.</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
safety profile of Glivec was similar in all indications. The most common side
effects included nausea, superficial edema, muscle cramps, skin rash, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, myalgia, arthralgia, hemorrhage, fatigue, headache,
joint pain, cough, dizziness, dyspepsia and dyspnea, dermatitis, eczema and
fluid retention, as well as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Glivec
was generally well-tolerated in all of the studies that were performed, either
as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, with the exception of a
transient liver toxicity in the form of transaminase elevation and
hyperbilirubinemia observed when Glivec was combined with high dose
chemotherapy.</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Rare/serious
adverse reactions include: sepsis, pneumonia, depression, convulsions, cardiac
failure, thrombosis/embolism, ileus, pancreatitis, hepatic failure, exfoliative
dermatitis, angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, renal failure, fluid
retention, edema (including brain, eye, pericardium, abdomen and lung),
hemorrhage (including brain, eye, kidney and gastrointestinal tract),
diverticulitis, gastrointestinal perforation, tumor hemorrhage/necrosis and hip
osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis.</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>

<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;">3</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Patients
with cardiac disease or risk factors for cardiac failure should be monitored
carefully and any patient with signs or symptoms consistent with cardiac
failure should be evaluated and treated. Cardiac screening should be considered
in patients with HES/CEL and patients with MDS/MPD with high level of
eosinophils (echocardiogram, serum troponin level).</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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Glivec
is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to imatinib or any
of its excipients. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid
becoming pregnant while taking Glivec.</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;">Disclaimer</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing release contains forward-looking
statements that can be identified by terminology such as </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;risk,&#148; &#147;potentially,&#148;
&#147;will,&#148; &#147;estimated,&#148; or similar expressions, or by express or implied
discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for Glivec,
regarding the long-term impact of a patient&#146;s use of Glivec, or regarding
potential future revenues from Glivec. You should not place undue reliance on these
statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of
management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Glivec to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Glivec
will be approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market.
Neither can there be any guarantee regarding the long-term impact of a patient&#146;s
use of Glivec. Nor can there be any guarantee that Glivec will achieve any
particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management&#146;s
expectations regarding Glivec 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;"><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;text-autospace:none;"><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, cost-saving generic
pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools 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 98,000
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 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 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;">4</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;">References</font></b></p>

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

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="97%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:97.86%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <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="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">DeMatteo,
  R., et al. Adjuvant imatinib mesylate after resection of localised, primary
  gastrointestinal stromal tumour: a randomised, double-blind,
  placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. Published online March&nbsp;19, 2009.
  Accessed March&nbsp;2009. http://www.thelancet.com/</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <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="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Demetri GD, Benjamin RS, Blanke CD, et al. </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">NCCN task
  force report: management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor
  (GIST) - update of NCCN clinical practice guidelines. J Natl Compr Cancer
  Network, 2007; 2 (suppl 1):S1-S26.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <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="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Artinyan, A., et al. Survival from Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal
  Tumors in the era of Imatinib. ASCO 2008 Abstract 50. Accessed
  March&nbsp;2009.
  http://www.asco.org/ASCO/Abstracts+&amp;+Virtual+Meeting/Abstracts?&amp;vmview=abst_detail_view&amp;confID=53&amp;abstractID=10708.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <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="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Van den Abbeele A., Benjamin R., Blanke C, et al.
  </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Clinical Management of GIST. Recurrence patterns and prognostic
  factors for survival. 2003;1-24.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <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="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Glivec</font><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">&#174;</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;(imatinib) prescribing information. Basel,
  Switzerland: Novartis International AG; March&nbsp;2009.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">6.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Joensuu
  H. Current perspectives on the epidemiology of gastrointestinal stromal
  tumors. European Journal of Cancer Supplements. March&nbsp;2006; Volume 4,
  Issue 3: 4-9.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.22%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">7.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="95%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:95.78%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
  World Factbook. European Union Population. CIA.gov; June&nbsp;2005. Available
  from:
  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ee.html.
  Accessed March&nbsp;2009.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;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 .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><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>

<p style="color:windowtext;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis Media Relations</font></b></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;">Central media line&nbsp;:</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> +41 61 324 2200</font></p>
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 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <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>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <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>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John
  Gilardi</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Jill
  Pozarek</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Thomas
  Hungerbuehler</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Edwin
  Valeriano</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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>
  <td width="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Isabella
  Zinck</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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="30%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:30.44%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.84%;">
  <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="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:22.06%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.54%;">
  <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="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="19%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:19.52%;">
  <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="55%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:55.34%;">
  <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>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.8%;">
  <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="41%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:41.86%;">
  <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 style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" 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;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" 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;">5</font></b></p>

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

<hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left">

</font></b></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='5',FILE='C:\JMS\rcheney\09-12880-1\task3541817\12880-1-ba.htm',USER='rcheney',CD='May  7 13:27 2009' -->


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


<div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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="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 style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:3.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="81%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:81.58%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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="49%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.36%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.54%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:44.82%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.54%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:44.82%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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:&nbsp;&nbsp; May&nbsp;7, 2009</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:4.54%;">
  <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="44%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:44.82%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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="49%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.36%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.48%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:42.88%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.48%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:42.88%;">
  <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</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.64%;">
  <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%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:6.48%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:42.88%;">
  <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;">Reporting and Accounting</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr height="0">
  <td width="309" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="28" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="12" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="262" style="border:none;"></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>

<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;">6</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='6',FILE='C:\JMS\rcheney\09-12880-1\task3541817\12880-1-ba.htm',USER='rcheney',CD='May  7 13:27 2009' -->


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`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
