Novartis Pharma is in 2nd place in the multispecialty ranking “Best Pharmaceutical Companies Germany” 2022 in the category “research-based, world-leading pharmaceutical companies by sales”. Janssen-Cilag is in 1st place in the ranking. 3rd place is taken by Bayer Vital/Jenapharm, followed by Sanofi in 4th place and Pfizer in 5th place.
Novartis Pharma – Success through research, a broad range and generics
In what was then the world’s largest merger, Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merged to form Novartis in 1996. With 51.1 billion USD in sales, Novartis will be the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world in 2021 (after Pfizer and AbbVie). According to IQVIA Pharma Scope, Novartis ranks first in the German pharmacy and hospital market by sales. The company’s focus is on innovative prescription drugs and generics. Novartis employs 104,300 people worldwide, and about 7,000 in Germany at ten locations in six German states. In addition to the capital representative office in Berlin, the branches are the long-standing company headquarters in Nuremberg and a new, equivalent location in Munich. The Novartis Sandoz Division is based in Holzkirchen, with production in Wehr, Barleben, Osterweddingen and Rudolstadt. The production facility in Marburg was sold to BioNTech for the production of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pharma&Oncology division develops drugs in the fields of haematology/oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, respiratory diseases, neurology, ophthalmology as well as immunology, hepatology and dermatology. Research is also conducted into cell and gene therapies. Novartis Oncology has been a separate business unit since 2016. The Sandoz Division is a global leader in generics and biosimilars. The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) are the innovation engine of Novartis with 6,000 researchers.
Novartis invested USD 9.6 billion in research and development in 2017, CHF 0.8 billion in Switzerland alone. The global portfolio of innovative, patented medicines includes more than 60 key products, many of which are leaders in their therapeutic areas. The strongest growth drivers in Q2 2022 were Entresto (heart failure), Kesimpta (multiple sclerosis), Cosentyx (psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis), Kisqali (breast cancer) and, approved in the EU at the end of May 2020, Zolgensma for gene therapy for children with spinal muscular atrophy. Luxturna is marketed as a gene therapy for early childhood blindness. Enerzair, the first triple combination for patients with inadequately controlled asthma, will be available in 2020.
The Novartis Foundation promotes the fight against leprosy, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries and supports AIDS orphans. Together with the German Migraine and Headache Society, Novartis awards the 100,000 euro Soyka Prize for Pain Research.
Multiple awards for Novartis Pharma for innovation and sustainability
Since the start of the Pharma Trend benchmark study in 2000, Novartis Pharma has already received the “Golden Tablet” award for innovation and sustainability 9 times. Novartis Pharma first received the “Most Innovative Product” award in 2003 for Elidel®, in 2006 for Xolair®, in 2007 for Lucentis® and Exforge®, in 2008 for Aclasta®, in 2009 for Rasilez®, in 2010 for Onbrez®, in 2011 for Tasigna® and Gilenya®. Afinitor® followed in 2012 and Seebri® in 2013.
Awards for innovation and sustainability since 2000:
- The Golden Tablet (2013 – 2008, 2006, 2005, 2000)
- Elidel® (2004 + 2003)
- Xolair® (2006)
- Lucentis® (2012 – 2007)
- Exforge® (2007)
- Aclasta® (2009 – 2008)
- Rasilez® (2009)
- Onbrez® (2010)
- Tasigna® (2011)
- Gilenya® (2012 – 2011)
- Afinitor® (2012)
- Seebri® (2013)
