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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-069215.txt : 20091210
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-069215.hdr.sgml : 20091210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091210060210
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-069215
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091210

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:		091232165

	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>a09-35066_16k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>6-K
<TEXT>

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<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 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 December&nbsp;8, 2009</font></b></p>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Form&nbsp;20-F:
  </font></b><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.0%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;40-F: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.0%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</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="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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.0%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

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

<p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check
mark 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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p align="right" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Yes: </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.0%;">
  <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="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.0%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">No</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">:&nbsp;
  </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

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

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

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

</div>

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

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

</div>
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<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="70%" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:70.84%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><img width="192" height="41" src="g350661bci001.jpg"></font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="29%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:29.16%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">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="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;">- 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;">Novartis Tasigna</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;trial shows superior results to 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;in patients with early-stage
chronic myeloid leukemia</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;">Tasigna surpassed Glivec in every measure of treatment efficacy
designated in the trial including prevention of disease progression at 12
months(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;">At
12-month milestone, significantly fewer patients progressed to accelerated or
blastic phase on Tasigna 300 mg twice daily than on Glivec 400 mg once daily(</font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">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;">Tasigna was well tolerated; few
patients receiving 300 mg twice daily discontinued because of adverse events(</font></i><i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">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;">Results support Tasigna as treatment
in newly diagnosed patients with Ph+ CML; Novartis to file worldwide
applications</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;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Basel, December&nbsp;8, 2009</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> &#151; In a large Phase III clinical trial, </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Tasigna</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;(nilotinib) demonstrated greater efficacy over
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)* in the treatment of adult
patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid
leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase(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;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In
the first head-to-head comparison of these two oral therapies as initial
treatment for this life-threatening blood cancer, Tasigna results showed
statistically significant improvement over Glivec in every measure of efficacy,
including major molecular response (MMR), complete cytogenetic response (CCyR)
and prevention of progression to accelerated or blastic phase(1). </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The new data were presented as a late
breaker abstract at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH), held in December, in New Orleans, USA.</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;">At
12 months, significantly fewer patients progressed to accelerated or blastic
phase on Tasigna 300 mg twice daily than on Glivec 400 mg once daily (2 patients
vs. 11 patients)(1), demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in
disease control. In the study, Tasigna was well tolerated. Fewer patients
discontinued due to adverse events from the Tasigna 300 mg twice daily arm of
the study compared to the Glivec 400 mg once daily arm. No patients in the
study had prolongation of QT interval &gt;500 milliseconds(1). No sudden deaths
occurred with either treatment(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;">&#147;The
outstanding rates of response observed with Tasigna, combined with the very low
rate of disease progression, strongly indicate that patients who begin their
treatment with Tasigna may have long-term improvement of progression-free
survival,&#148; said Giuseppe Saglio, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital,
Orbassano-Torino, Italy, a member of the study management committee. &#147;The
efficacy results and tolerability of Tasigna should support its use in newly
diagnosed Ph+ CML patients.&#148;</font></p>

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

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">With
Tasigna 300 mg twice daily, the rate of MMR at 12 months was twice that of
patients receiving Glivec 400 mg once daily (44% vs. 22%, p &lt; 0.0001)(1). In
addition, 80% of patients </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;">2</font></p>

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<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;">achieved
CCyR with Tasigna versus 65% with Glivec 400 mg once daily (p &lt; 0.0001)(1).
Responses were achieved faster in the Tasigna group than in the Glivec
group(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;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">MMR was defined in the study as reduction in the level
of the abnormal Bcr-Abl protein to less than or equal to 0.1% of the
pre-treatment level based on an internationally agreed standard(</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1)</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">. This can be
interpreted to mean that for every 1,000 cells containing Bcr-Abl that were
present in the blood at the start of therapy, only one cell was present at the
12-month follow-up. CCyR indicates that no CML cells containing the diagnostic
Ph chromosome can be seen in a sample of bone marrow taken from the patient.</font></p>

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

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#147;Novartis is pioneering research targeting the
molecular origin of Ph+ CML, which has led to treatments of unprecedented
effectiveness and safety,&#148; said David Epstein, President and CEO of Novartis
Oncology and Novartis Molecular Diagnostics. &#147;Considering the already low rates
of progression to advanced disease and the excellent long-term survival of
patients on Glivec, the efficacy and safety profile of Tasigna at 12 months is
fantastic news and brings promise for further improving the outcomes of
patients with Ph+ CML.&#148;</font></p>

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

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Tasigna
is a potent and selective inhibitor of the Bcr-Abl protein that causes
production of cancer cells in Ph+ CML(2),(3). Upon initial reports of
resistance in the Glivec registration trials, Novartis scientists created a new
molecule, Tasigna, just a year after the launch of Glivec. The first clinical
trials began just 21 months after discovery. The drug received its first
regulatory approval in the second-line indication in 2007.</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;">Novartis plans to file
worldwide applications for approval of Tasigna as a treatment for adult
patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML. Tasigna is currently approved in more
than 80 countries including the European Union, United States and other
countries for the treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML in chronic phase or
accelerated phase who are resistant or intolerant to prior treatment including
Glivec.</font></p>

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

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

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The clinical trial, <u>E</u>valuating <u>N</u>ilotinib
<u>E</u>fficacy and <u>S</u>afety in Clinical <u>T</u>rials of <u>N</u>ewly <u>D</u>iagnosed
Ph+ CML Patients (ENESTnd), </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">is a Phase III randomized, open-label, multicenter
trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Tasigna versus Glivec in adult
patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML in chronic phase(1)</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">. It is the largest global randomized comparison of two oral therapies
ever conducted in newly diagnosed Ph+ CML patients. Designed to detect a
difference in MMR between Tasigna and Glivec after 12 months of treatment, it
is also the </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">first
registration study in which molecular traces of a key biomarker specific to Ph+
CML have been used as a primary endpoint for regulatory review. The trial&#146;s
secondary endpoints included CCyR, as well as progression to accelerated or
blastic phase, and overall survival.</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;">ENESTnd is being
conducted at 220 global sites with 846 patients enrolled. Patients were
randomized to receive Tasigna 400 mg twice daily (n = 281), Tasigna 300 mg
twice daily (n = 282) or Glivec 400 mg once daily (n = 283). The primary
endpoint was MMR at 12 months; a secondary endpoint was CCyR by 12 months(1).
Planned follow-up is for five years(2). Patients on the Glivec treatment arm
who had suboptimal response or treatment failure will be able to escalate dose
and/or switch to Tasigna via a protocol extension.</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;">Samples for molecular
response were evaluated by a single reference laboratory. </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The blood test used to determine molecular response can detect a single
cell containing traces of Bcr-Abl in up to one million normal blood cells(</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4)</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">.</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> In addition to being simpler
and less invasive for patients, the test has a much greater sensitivity than
standard cytogenetic tests, which require a sample of bone marrow to be drawn
for visual detection of cells containing the Ph chromosome(5).</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 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;">All patients had a minimum
of 12 months of treatment or discontinued early; the median follow-up was 14
months. Overall, 84%, 82% and 79% of patients remained in the study on Tasigna
300 mg twice daily, Tasigna 400 mg twice daily and Glivec 400 mg once daily,
respectively.</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;">Rates of MMR at 12
months were statistically higher for patients in the Tasigna 300 mg twice daily
group compared with Glivec 400 mg once daily (44% vs. 22%, p &lt; 0.0001) and
also for Tasigna 400 mg twice daily compared with Glivec 400 mg once daily (43%
vs. 22%, p &lt; 0.0001). Among patients who achieved MMR, median time to MMR
was faster for Tasigna 300 mg twice daily (5.7 months) and Tasigna 400 mg twice
daily (5.8 months) compared with Glivec 400 mg once daily (8.3 months).
Molecular response was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline,
monthly for three months, and every three months thereafter.</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;">Rates of CCyR by 12
months were significantly higher for Tasigna at 300 mg twice daily compared
with Glivec 400 mg once daily (80% vs. 65%, p &lt; 0.0001) and for Tasigna 400
mg twice daily compared with Glivec 400 mg once daily (78% vs. 65%, p =
0.0005). Overall, progression to advanced disease was lower for Tasigna 300 mg
twice daily (2 patients) and Tasigna 400 mg twice daily (1 patient) compared with
Glivec 400 mg once daily (11 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>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Both Tasigna and Glivec
were well tolerated overall. Rates of discontinuation due to adverse events or
laboratory abnormalities were 7% for Tasigna 300 mg twice daily, 11% for
Tasigna 400 mg twice daily, and 9% for Glivec 400 mg once daily.</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
Ph+ CML</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CML is a disease in which the body produces
cancerous white blood cells. Almost all patients with CML have an abnormality
known as the Philadelphia chromosome, which produces a protein called Bcr-Abl.
Bcr-Abl causes malignant white blood cells to proliferate(6). </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Worldwide, CML
is responsible for approximately 10% to 15% of all adult cases of leukemia(7), with an incidence of one to two
cases per 100,000 people per year(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;">About Tasigna(</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3)</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Tasigna
has been approved in more than 80 countries for the treatment of chronic phase
and accelerated phase Ph+ CML in adult patients resistant or intolerant to at
least one prior therapy, including Glivec. The effectiveness of Tasigna for
this indication is based on confirmed hematologic and unconfirmed cytogenetic
response rates. There are no controlled trials demonstrating a clinical
benefit, such as improvement in disease-related symptoms or increased survival.</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;">Tasigna
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;">Because
taking Tasigna with food may increase the amount of drug in the blood, Tasigna
should not be taken with food and patients should wait at least two hours after
a meal before taking Tasigna. In addition, no food should be consumed for at
least one hour after the dose is taken.</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
most frequent Grade 3 or 4 adverse events for Tasigna were primarily
hematological in nature and included neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
Elevations seen in bilirubin, liver function tests, lipase enzymes and blood
sugar, were mostly transient and resolved over time. These cases were easily
managed and rarely led to discontinuation of treatment. Pancreatitis was
reported in less than 1% of cases. The most frequent non-hematologic
drug-related adverse events were rash, pruritus, nausea, fatigue, headache,
constipation and diarrhea. Most of these adverse events were mild to moderate
in severity.</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;">Tasigna
should be used with caution in patients with uncontrolled or significant
cardiac disease (e.g., recent heart attack, congestive heart failure, unstable
angina or clinically significant bradycardia), as well as in patients who have
or may develop prolongation of QTc. These include patients with abnormally low
potassium or magnesium levels, patients with congenital long QT syndrome,
patients taking anti-arrhythmic medicines or other drugs that may lead to QT </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;">4</font></p>

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

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">prolongation.
Low levels of potassium or magnesium must be corrected prior to Tasigna
administration. Close monitoring for an effect on the QTc interval is advisable
and a baseline echocardiogram is recommended prior to initiating therapy with
Tasigna and as clinically indicated.</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="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><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">9)</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;">Glivec is approved
in more than 90 countries, including the US, EU and Japan, for the treatment of
all phases of Ph+ </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CML</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">. 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). </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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. </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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. Glivec is also approved for the treatment of patients with
myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD). Glivec is also 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, MDS/MPD, on
hematological response rates in </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">systemic mastocytosis (SM), 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;">Glivec</font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">
important safety </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">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 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;">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 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;">5</font></p>

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<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&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 &#147;to file,&#148; &#147;may,&#148; &#147;should,&#148;
&#147;potential,&#148; &#147;promise,&#148; &#147;plans,&#148; &#147;will,&#148; or similar expressions, or by express
or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for
Tasigna or regarding potential future revenues from Tasigna or Glivec. You
should not place undue reliance on these statements.&#160; 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 Tasigna or Glivec to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can
be no guarantee that Tasigna will be submitted or approved for any additional
indications or labeling in any market. Nor can there be any guarantee that
Tasigna or Glivec will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future.
In particular, management&#146;s expectations regarding Tasigna and 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 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 each of 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, 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;">6</font></p>

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</div>
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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;">References</font></b></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Saglio G, Kim DW, Issaragrisil S, Philipp
le Coutre, et al. Nilotinib Demonstrates Superior Efficacy Compared with
Imatinib in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic
Phase: Results from the International Randomized Phase III ENESTnd Trial.
Abstract #LBA-1. American Society of Hematology 2009 Annual Meeting.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Novartis data on file.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Tasigna (nilotinib) European Summary of
Characteristics. Novartis AG. http://www.tasigna.com/en/tasigna-product-information.jsp#.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(4)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Kurzrock R, Talpaz M. The Molecular
Pathology of Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 1991 Oct; 79 Suppl
1:34-7.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(5)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">NCCN Practice Guidelines in Oncology &#150;
v.1.2010. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(6)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">National Cancer Institute. General
Information About Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (PDQ).
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CML/patient/.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(7)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide:
CML. What are the key statistics about CML? (Sept 2008 revision) Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Are_the_Key_Statistics_About_Chronic_Myeloid_Leukemia_
CML.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed April 2009.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(8)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Central European Leukemia Study Group.
About CML. [Cited 2009 Jan 13] Available from:
http://www.cml-info.com/de/healthcare-professionals/about-cml.html.</font></p>

<p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .35in;text-autospace:none;text-indent:-.35in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(9)</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;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Glivec<font style="position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">&#174;</font>&#160;(imatinib) prescribing information. Basel,
Switzerland: Novartis International AG; March&nbsp;2009.</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>

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<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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  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.26%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="24%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:24.0%;">
  <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="26%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:26.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="17%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:17.08%;">
  <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="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.26%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e-mail:
  investor.relations@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.34%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">e-mail:
  investor.relations@novartis.com</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p 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;">Media materials can be
accessed at: http://www.novartisoncology.com/media/index.jsp or for mobile
devices http://www.novartisoncology.com/mobile/index.html.</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;">7</font></p>

<div style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='7',FILE='C:\JMS\105921\09-35066-1\task3831176\35066-1-bc.htm',USER='105921',CD='Dec  9 00:24 2009' -->


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


<div>

<p style="color:black;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;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:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.42%;">
  <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:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.42%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="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:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: &nbsp;&nbsp;December&nbsp;8,
  2009</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <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="42%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom: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;">/s/ MALCOLM B. CHEETHAM</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="border:none;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:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <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:50.58%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <p style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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 style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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 0in 0in 0in;width:50.58%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
  <p align="left" style="color:windowtext;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="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;">Reporting and
  Accounting</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

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

<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;">8</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>
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