-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cj5pIj4cRmpUaDsB3fTw+OnasT9tVb0PJ4B8PnXigzWQSI/ABSGZ/3F0ET2k2yn+
 dgH4PF0x/LKb+CytyduyJA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-044814.txt : 20090727
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-044814.hdr.sgml : 20090727
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090727062424
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-044814
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090727
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090727

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:		09963402

	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>a09-19714_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;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="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 July&nbsp;24, 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="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.0%;">
  <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:
  &nbsp;</font></b><b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.26%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;40-F: &nbsp;</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><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="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.0%;">
  <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: &nbsp;</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.26%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No:&nbsp; </font></b><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 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="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.0%;">
  <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: &nbsp;</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.26%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No:&nbsp; </font></b><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="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:46.0%;">
  <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: &nbsp;</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.26%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No:&nbsp; </font></b><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>

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

</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>

<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\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 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>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="64%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:64.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="185" height="41" src="g197141bai001.jpg"></font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.92%;">
  <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="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.5%;">
  <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>
  <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>
  <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>
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Switzerland</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;">http://www.novartis.com</font></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="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>

<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;">Ilaris</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;recommended for European approval as new
biologic drug to treat a rare but serious group of auto-inflammatory diseases</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;">Set to
become first medicine in EU to treat patients aged four and older suffering
from life-long cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS)(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;">Ilaris targets interleukin-1 beta (IL-1&#223;), a key
driver of inflammation(1),(2),(3)&nbsp;&#151; studies ongoing in other diseases
involving IL-1&#223; such as gout, COPD and type 2 diabetes</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;">EU opinion
follows US and Swiss approvals based on data showing Ilaris produced rapid and
sustained remission in CAPS patients after one dose(2)</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;">CAPS
comprises three disorders of increasing severity with potentially fatal
complications(2),(3)&nbsp;&#150; most patients suffer from severe and disabling
symptoms(1),(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, </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">July&nbsp;24, 2009</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> &#150; The biotechnology medicine Ilaris</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;(canakinumab) has passed another major
milestone with a recommendation for approval in the European Union to treat
patients with a life-long and potentially fatal auto-inflammatory disease
called cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). When approved, Ilaris
will be the only treatment in the EU indicated for CAPS patients aged four
years and older(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;">Ilaris
represents an important advance in the development of personalized medicines
because it targets a condition that is triggered by a specific genetic
mutation. In CAPS patients, this
mutation drives the overproduction
of </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">interleukin 1-beta (</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IL-1&#223;) which causes the
widespread sustained
inflammation and tissue damage associated with the disease(3),(4),(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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">B</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">ecause Ilaris </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">normalizes
the production of </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IL-1&#223;(1),(2),(3),
it is also being studied in other diseases in which IL-1&#223; plays a </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">pivotal
role </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">such as </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">systemic juvenile idiopathic
arthritis (SJIA), gout, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and type
2 diabetes.</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;">&#147;By
concentrating initially on a rare syndrome with a well-defined disease process
such as CAPS, we have been able to demonstrate a clear therapeutic advantage
with Ilaris,&#148; said Trevor Mundel, MD, Head of Global Development at Novartis
Pharma AG. &#147;Our focus now is to establish whether this could also provide a new
approach to the treatment of other diseases involving a similar underlying
process.&#148;</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
positive opinion recommending the approval of Ilaris for CAPS was issued by the
Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), which reviews medicines
for the European Commission. The recommendation comes shortly after approvals
in the US and Switzerland where Ilaris was granted priority review based on its
potential to fulfill an important unmet need for CAPS patients.</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="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 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>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The
EU submission was supported by data showing that Ilaris, </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">a monoclonal antibody </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">formerly known as ACZ885, produced rapid and
sustained remission of symptoms in up to 97% of CAPS patients, with most
responding from the first injection(2).</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;">Ilaris is given by subcutaneous injection only once </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">every two
months making it a convenient treatment, especially
for younger patients(2). More than 90% of patients studied were free
from painful injection-site reactions(2).</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;">CAPS
includes three distinct auto-inflammatory disorders. These are familial cold
auto-inflammatory syndrome (FCAS) which is the mildest form of CAPS,
Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory
disease (NOMID, also known as chronic infantile neurological cutaneous
articular syndrome or CINCA) &#151; the most severe form of the disease(2),(3).</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;">&#147;CAPS
is a life-long and potentially fatal condition for which there are currently no
approved medications in the European Union,&#148; said Helen J. Lachmann, MD of the
UK National Amyloidosis Centre at UCL Medical School in London, UK. </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;In clinical trials, canakinumab has been shown to switch off disease </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">activity in as
little as 24 hours </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">following a single dose. It has the potential to transform patients&#146; lives,
not only providing relief from their debilitating daily symptoms but also
offering the possibility of long-term control of the disease.&#148;</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
symptoms of CAPS, such as debilitating fatigue, rash, fever, headaches, joint pain
and conjunctivitis, can be present from birth or infancy, and can occur daily
throughout patients&#146; lives(2),(3). Serious long-term consequences may include
deafness, bone deformities, erosive joint destruction, and central nervous
system damage leading to loss of vision(1),(2),(3). Around 25% of CAPS patients
develop amyloidosis, a condition in which the build-up of proteins can cause vital
organs to fail, resulting in renal failure and death within five to 10
years(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;">CAPS
is believed to occur in around 6,500 patients worldwide and 2,500 in the
EU(3),(6). However due to lack of diagnosis or misdiagnosis, fewer than 1,000
cases have been officially reported worldwide(1),(3).</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;">The Ilaris filing was based
on a clinical trial program involving more than 100 CAPS patients. The pivotal
study is a three-part, one-year Phase III study involving 35 patients aged nine
to 74 years old with varying degrees of disease severity(2). Data published in <i>The New England Journal of Medicine</i> in June&nbsp;2009 show
that Ilaris produced a rapid, complete and sustained response in the majority
of patients(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;">Results for the primary
endpoint showed that none of the patients treated with Ilaris (0 out of 15)
experienced a disease outbreak or &#145;flare&#146; compared to 13 of the 16 patients who
received placebo (0% vs. 81% respectively, p&lt;0.001)(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;">In general, Ilaris was well
tolerated with no consistent pattern of adverse events apart from a slight
increase in infections(2). Two patients experienced serious adverse events,
namely a lower urinary tract infection and vertigo(2). The most common adverse
events reported in Ilaris-treated patients were nasopharyngitis, diarrhea,
influenza, headache and nausea(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;">No impact on the type or
frequency of adverse events was seen with longer-term treatment(2). Ilaris was not associated with any severe
reactions at the injection site, and those that did occur were mild-to-moderate
in nature(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;">The CHMP recommended
approval under exceptional circumstances, granted when comprehensive data are
not yet available due to the rarity of the disease or limited scientific
knowledge. The approval is subject to certain obligations for the company and
is re-assessed each year until normal approval can be given.</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;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 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>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ilaris
was approved in Switzerland in July&nbsp;2009 to treat all three forms of CAPS
in adults and children over four years old, and in the US in June&nbsp;2009 to
treat two forms of CAPS, namely FCAS and MWS. A study in NOMID patients is
under way in the US and priority reviews are being conducted in other
countries, including Australia and Canada.</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;">In
addition to orphan drug status for CAPS, Ilaris has also been designated as an
orphan drug for treating systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) in the
US, EU and Switzerland, and has fast-track status for SJIA in the US. Orphan
drugs are those developed to treat diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people
(in the US)(7)&nbsp;or fewer than five out of 10,000 people (in the EU)(8).</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;font-size:10.0pt;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 &#147;potentially,&#148; &#147;will,&#148;
&#147;could,&#148; &#147;potential,&#148; &#147;can,&#148; &#147;may,&#148; or similar expressions, or by express or
implied discussions regarding potential future regulatory filings or marketing
approvals for </font><font face="Times New Roman">Ilaris, or the timing of any such potential filings or approvals, or regarding potential future revenues from Ilaris. 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 Ilaris to
be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Ilaris will be approved for sale in any additional
market, or for any additional indication, or that any such approvals will occur
at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Ilaris will achieve any levels of revenue in the
future. In particular, management&#146;s expectations regarding Ilaris 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;</font><font face="Times New Roman"> the impact that the foregoing factors could have
on the values attributed to the Group&#146;s assets and liabilities as recorded in
the Group&#146;s consolidated balance sheet</font><font face="Times New Roman">, 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 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 99,000 full-time-equivalent associates and
operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">please visit http://www.novartis.com</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">.</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;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">References</font></b></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.34%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.74%;">
  <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="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.92%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">National
  Horizon Scanning Centre. Canakinumab for cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome.
  November&nbsp;2008. Available at:
  http://www.pcpoh.bham.ac.uk/publichealth/horizon/outputs/documents/2008/sept-dec/Canakinumab.pdf
  Last accessed April&nbsp;21, 2009.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.34%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.74%;">
  <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="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.92%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Lachmann HJ, Kone-Paut I, Kuemmerle-Deschner
  JB, et al. </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Use of Canakinumab in the Cryopyrin-Associated
  Periodic Syndrome. N Engl J Med, 360;23. June&nbsp;4, 2009.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.34%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.74%;">
  <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="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.92%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Durrant
  KLW, Goldbach-Mansky R, Hoffman H, Leslie K, Rubin B. CAPS
  Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes 2008. Available at:
  http://www.nomidalliance.net/Download1.html Last accessed April&nbsp;19,
  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>

<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\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 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="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.16%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <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="94%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Joost
  PH, Drenth MD, Jos W.M. van der Meer. The Inflammasome &#150; A Linebacker of
  Innate Defense. N Engl J Med 2006. Vol 355:730-732. Number 7.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.16%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <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="94%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Lachmann
  HJ, Lowe P, Felix SD, <i>et al</i>. In
  vivo regulation of interleukin 1 in patients with cryopyrin-associated
  periodic syndromes. J Exp Med 2009. Published online April&nbsp;13, 2009.
  Available at: www.jem.org/cgi/doi/10.1084/jem.20082481.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.16%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <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="94%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">European
  Medicines Agency (EMEA). Pre-authorisation evaluation of medicines for human
  use. Committee for orphan medicinal products. Available at:
  http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/comp/opnion/17086808en.pdf. Last
  accessed 14 July&nbsp;2009.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.16%;">
  <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="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <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="94%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Orphan
  Drug Act. US Food and Drug Administration. Section&nbsp;526 (2).</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(8)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.84%;">
  <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="94%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The orphan drug strategy. Europa:
  Gateway to the European Union. Paragraph 1, Line 1.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

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

<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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Eric Althoff</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Irina Ferluga</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <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="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <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="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 61 324 </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2422 (direct)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">+41 79 </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">824 1121 (mobile)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <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="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">irina.ferluga@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.16%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.82%;">
  <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="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.02%;">
  <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>
 </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;">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%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Central phone:</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">North America:</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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>
  </td>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:25.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
  <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="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.0%;">
  <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="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\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="49%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.82%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="7%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.06%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="7%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.06%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp; July&nbsp;24, 2009</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.64%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="45%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="7%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.06%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="7%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.06%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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 0in 0in 0in;width:50.18%;">
  <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="7%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.06%;">
  <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 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
  <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>
 <tr height="0">
  <td width="375" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="35" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="18" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="320" style="border:none;"></td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 3.5in;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><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\105591\09-19714-1\task3640295\19714-1-ba.htm',USER='105591',CD='Jul 24 21:00 2009' -->


</body>

</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>g197141bai001.jpg
<DESCRIPTION>GRAPHIC
<TEXT>
begin 644 g197141bai001.jpg
M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`0$`8`!@``#_VP!#``@&!@<&!0@'!P<)"0@*#!0-#`L+
M#!D2$P\4'1H?'AT:'!P@)"XG("(L(QP<*#<I+#`Q-#0T'R<Y/3@R/"XS-#+_
MVP!#`0D)"0P+#!@-#1@R(1PA,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R
M,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C+_P``1"``I`+D#`2(``A$!`Q$!_\0`
M'P```04!`0$!`0$```````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1```@$#`P($`P4%
M!`0```%]`0(#``01!1(A,4$&$U%A!R)Q%#*!D:$((T*QP152T?`D,V)R@@D*
M%A<8&1HE)B<H*2HT-38W.#DZ0T1%1D=(24I35%565UA96F-D969G:&EJ<W1U
M=G=X>7J#A(6&AXB)BI*3E)66EYB9FJ*CI*6FIZBIJK*SM+6VM[BYNL+#Q,7&
MQ\C)RM+3U-76U]C9VN'BX^3EYN?HZ>KQ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_\0`'P$``P$!`0$!
M`0$!`0````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1$``@$"!`0#!`<%!`0``0)W``$"
M`Q$$!2$Q!A)!40=A<1,B,H$(%$*1H;'!"2,S4O`58G+1"A8D-.$E\1<8&1HF
M)R@I*C4V-S@Y.D-$149'2$E*4U155E=865IC9&5F9VAI:G-T=79W>'EZ@H.$
MA8:'B(F*DI.4E9:7F)F:HJ.DI::GJ*FJLK.TM;:WN+FZPL/$Q<;'R,G*TM/4
MU=;7V-G:XN/DY>;GZ.GJ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_]H`#`,!``(1`Q$`/P#W^J=QJMA:
M7"V]Q=11RMT1FP36/X@UV;0M1LW)#VL[>6R8Y4^N:Y+Q]:I-XST&4<B=@.!Z
M&JP_+5J.#>Q&,]IAZ,:J5T_\['J(.1D=**1%VHJ^@Q2U)84444`%%%%`!111
M0`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444`>9ZS/)XG\906-N<P0-C(Z
M<<DUK>+;$/XE\,.H($-QC\.*R_`06/Q1J23#;(0VT-U^]_A7:ZK8-=7MA,B;
MC#+N)]!7-ELM75EN[_Y';G<-(X>.T4OT=R2_OGT^>-Y`#;.=I/=3_A6@CJZ!
MU.5(R#61XD9!IA5C\Q/RBI=!:5M)B\T$')`SZ=JPAB)+&2H/56OZ>1E*FG15
M3SL:=<_H?BNUUC4[_3B!%=6DK)M)^^!W%;Y.`37F%MX>?6;&\U72W-OK%M?3
M,K@\.,_=->M2A&2?,>=B*DX2CR:[Z=SM=5UN;3M6L+%;;S!>.55P?NXZYK7G
MGBM;=YYW"1QKN9CT`KSNR\1#7=>T&*ZC:#4[6>1+B$C_`&/O"NA^("SMX-O?
M(SD`%\?W>]5*E:48/2_^9$<1>$ZD=4MON$M/$&J:S`]UI>G#[*,B-YFQYON/
M04_0?%T>J:A-I=W;/9ZE#]Z)S]X>HJSX/GAN/"FG/`1L\H#`[&N9UB$R?%?3
M?LP_>B(-+C^Z/6J48RE*%K6O^!$IU(0A4YKWM=>O8W?$WBB;PY);M)9&6WGD
M$8D5OND^M:6K:LNF:'+J1`D"(&"C^+V%0>*](&M>'+NTP/,*;D/HPYKC-%U&
M3Q18Z/HCY!MGW7@[@)T!^M*%.,X*7;<=6K.G4<+[K3U_K4]!TRYGO-/AN;B#
MR'D4-Y9.2H-9=QXIMK?Q=;Z"<;Y(RQ;/0]A6W-+':6KRMA8XD+'V`%>0:G]L
MGLF\0I87`NTN?/2<K\ODYXYHHTXU&[CQ-:5&*2U>[]%N>R5RMQXJNH_$\NA0
MZ>9;A(O.5@X`9:WM*OH]3TNVO8CE)HPP/\ZX'49KZW^+<\NG6L=S<+8`^6[[
M<C'8^M31@G*2DMD5B*KC&,HO=K[CK?#?B6'Q#%.!`]O<6[E)8G.2#4-_KNJV
M;7<RZ29+.`$B3>`2!UXK.^'LEI/9WEPK?\3"68M=1D8*'/3Z5T7B'_D7M0_Z
MX-_*G*,8U>6V@J<ISH*?-J8>F^*M4U:PAOK;1V^SR,!O+C@9P3BMS7=3;1](
MGOQ%YHA&YDSU%8WPZ_Y$NS_X%_.KGC;_`)$_4?\`KD:)*/M>1+2X0E/ZO[1O
M6U_P+N@ZF^L:1!?O#Y0F&Y4SD@50U#Q#,NOKHFGP++=^7YLA<X"KVI_@O/\`
MPA^F9_YXBL;QCX=NKJ]77=$GV:G:KAT!^^H[41C#VKB]M0G.I[",XZO2_?SL
M=/H]Y=7MF7O+8V\ZL59?7W%:%87A+76\0:&EU*FRX4E)5[;A6[651.,FFK'1
M2DI04D[F#J/A>"YU!=1M)6M+U3G>G1OK6G:+?K`1=O`TO8Q@@?CFK=%8*G%-
MM:7.F5:<XJ,M;&5+I+WLZ2WLP8)TC3[M:BJ$4*H``X`%+14TJ%.DW**U>[ZL
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M3ES=05.*AR6T,W0M*;1=+BL/M#31Q#:C-UQ5*ZT"[;4KBZL]4FMUN`!)'C(&
M.XK?HIJI*[?<'2BXJ/1%#1](MM$T];.VR5!+,S=6)ZDU?HHJ6VW=EQBHJRV/
"_]D_
`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
