• China Bureau of Civil Affairs recognizes Novartis for providing immediate and long-term relief to the earthquake region

• Novartis provided immediate medical supplies and financial donations to the YaAn disaster area in the MingShan district

• Contributions from Novartis associates are supporting the reconstruction of a new school and health unit

"We are honored to receive this prestigious award from the Chinese government," said Thomas Wellauer, Head of Corporate Affairs, Novartis International AG. "The China Charity Award recognizes our contributions to the earthquake relief and our focus on the needs of the people in the communities in which we operate."

Novartis contributions for the earthquake relief efforts totaled more than RMB 15 million (USD 2 million) in cash and medicines. These included the dispatch of 20 000 units of the antibiotic amoxicillin to the disaster area from Sandoz, the generics Division of Novartis immediately after the disaster, as well as contributions from 2 726 Novartis associates totaling USD 135 000. The financial contributions are supporting earthquake relief efforts and reconstruction projects in the YaAn area in cooperation with the China Red Cross.

Some of the funds are aiding the reconstruction of a primary school in a poor village. The ground-breaking ceremony took place October 12, 2008 and the school is expected to open in May 2009. The funds also supported construction of a new health unit in the same area which will open in spring 2009.

Novartis has a long-standing relationship with the China Charity Federation which also acts as the local partner in China for the Glivec(R) International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP). Together with projects such as the GIPAP, support for cancer patients in China reached more than 6 500 patients and totaled RMB 3.04 million (USD 450 000) by August 2008.

As one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Novartis knows its most important contribution to patients is researching, developing, and providing medicines to treat and prevent disease, ease suffering, and improve quality of life.

About Novartis
Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group's continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 97,000 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis

Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

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