Novartis AG History



Address:
Lichtstrasse 35
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland

Telephone: (41) 61-324-1111
Fax: (41) 61-324-8001

Website:
Public Company
Incorporated: 1996
Employees: 67,653
Sales: CHFr 35.80 billion ($22.21 billion) (2000)
Stock Exchanges: Zurich New York
Ticker Symbols: NVS (NYSE); NOVN (SWX)
NAIC: 325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing; 541710 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; 621511 Medical Laboratories; 541380 Testing Laboratories

Company Perspectives:

We, at Novartis, are committed to improving health and well-being through innovative products and services. We aspire to capture and hold a leadership position in all of our businesses with a strong, sustainable performance based on continuous innovation. Our long-term success is founded on meeting the expectations of all our stakeholders--our customers, our people, our shareholders and the communities in which we live and work. This is who we are. Key Dates:

Key Dates:

1859:
Alexander Clavel founds silk dyeing works in Basel, Switzerland .
1886:
Kern & Sandoz is formed.
1898:
Geigy is founded in Grenzach, Germany.
1911:
Sandoz Chemical Company Ltd. begins operations in England.
1917:
Arthur Stoll creates Pharmaceutical Department at Sandoz.
1918:
Ciba, Sandoz, and Geigy form Basel AG cartel.
1929:
Basel AG joins IG Farben to form Dual Cartel.
1935:
Geigy begins producing insecticides.
1939:
Dr. Paul Mueller discovers insecticidal properties of DDT.
1949:
Geigy launches anti-rheumatic drug Butazolidin.
1951:
Basel AG is dissolved.
1958:
Sandoz launches neuroleptic drug Melleril.
1964:
Sandoz forms research center in East Hanover, New Jersey.
1970:
Ciba and Geigy merge to form Ciba-Geigy Ltd.
1974:
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. acquires Funk Seeds International.
1980:
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. forms biotechnology unit.
1987:
Ciba-Vision is formed.
1996:
Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merge to form Novartis AG
1999:
Novartis divests seed and crop protection holdings.

Company History:

Further Reading:

  • Buckley, Neil, 'More on Gene-Modified Food,' Financial Times (London), July 25, 1997.
  • Capell, Kerry, with Heidi Dawley, 'Healing Novartis,' Business Week, November 8, 1999.
  • Enri, Paul, The Basel Marriage: History of the Ciba-Geigy Merger, Zurich, Switzerland: Neue Zurcher Zeitung, 1979.
  • Fisher, Lawrence M., 'Two Deals Extend the Financial Frontiers of Gene Therapy,' New York Times, January 14, 1997.
  • Ford, Peter, 'Wary Europe Enters Biotech Age,' Christian Science Monitor, June 10, 1998.
  • Gebhart, Fred, 'Skin Patch Makers Fight to Be No. 1 in War on Nicotine,' Drug Topics, January 20, 1992, p. 26.
  • Graham, David E., 'Plant Genetics to Grow Here: Swiss Company Announces $600 Million Biotech Lab,' San Diego Union-Tribune, July 22, 1998.
  • Hall, William, 'Sandoz and Ciba to Sell Part of U.S. Business,' Financial Times (London), August 29, 1996.
  • Hunter, David, 'Ciba-Geigy: Back to the Roots for Renewed Growth,' Chemical Week, June 21, 1989, p. 21.
  • Kirschner, Elisabeth, 'Ciba-Geigy and New Jersey Settle Toms River Battle,' Chemical Week, March 11, 1992, p. 14.
  • Lichtenstein, William, 'The Toms River Experience,' Chemical Engineering, April 1991, p. 45.
  • McCarthy, Joseph L., 'Alex Kraurer: Ciba-Geigy,' Chief Executive, July/August 1992, p. 20.
  • Michaels, Adrian, 'Novartis Hopes New Drugs Will Boost US Sales,' Financial Times (London), February 15, 2001.
  • Morris, Gregory D., 'Ciba-Geigy Enters the $1.5 Billion/Year Corn Biotech Race,' Chemical Week, September 12, 1990, p. 12.
  • Shon, Melissa, 'Nicotine Patch Market Takes a Fall, But Why?,' Chemical Marketing Reporter, September 14, 1992, p. 5.
  • Wilsher, Peter, 'The Feeling Grows That Going Green Is Good for Business,' Management Today, October 1991, p. 27.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 39. St. James Press, 2001.