SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated May 7, 2002
Novartis AG
(Name of Registrant)
Lichtstrasse 35
4056 Basel
Switzerland
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F _
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 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes___ No X
Enclosure: Investor Relations Release dated May 6, 2002: "Novartis steps up
US research investment, opening Cambridge, Massachusetts Biomedical
Research Center."
NOVARTIS [LOGO] Investor Relations Novartis International AG
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Karen J Huebscher, PH.D.
Tel +41 61 324 8433
Nafida Bendali
Tel +41 61 324 3514
Sabine Moravi, MBA
Tel + 41 61 324 8989
Silke Zenter
Tel +41 61 324 8612
Francisco Bouzas
Tel +41 61 324 8444
Fax + 41 61 324 8844
Internet Address:
http://www.novartis.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Investor Relations Release -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novartis steps up US research investment, opening Cambridge, Massachusetts
Biomedical Research Center
New leadership and structure for Novartis Global Research Operations
o Novartis organizes its worldwide research activities under the umbrella
of the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR)
o The Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research Inc. (NIBRI) with
initially 400 new positions will be created in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
with a planned expansion to 900 top scientists
o Leading researcher Mark Fishman, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Harvard
Medical School, Chief, Cardiology Division, and Director of Cardiovascular
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins as worldwide head of the
Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
o Global research leadership to be located in Cambridge, close to top
scientific talent, leading academic institutions and hospital network
o Long-term commitment to advancing medical research for patients through
novel discovery approaches, integration of cutting-edge technologies and
attraction of best-in-class scientists
Basel/Cambridge, 6 May 2002 - Novartis announced today significant elements of
its new research strategy with the establishment of the Novartis Institute for
Biomedical Research, Inc. (NIBRI) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. All worldwide
research activities performed in Europe, the US and Japan will be led out of
Cambridge by its new head, Mark Fishman, M.D., currently Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School, Chief of Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The new research facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will open with an initial
255 000 square feet of lab and office space and room for 400 scientists and
technology experts, and starting investment of USD 250 million. Novartis is
planning to expand the Cambridge site, creating one of the most important
research campuses in the world, focusing on the discovery of new drugs for
diabetes, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, using integrated
high-throughput technologies. The magnitude and quality of Novartis' research
endeavors and the investment in Cambridge will enhance the company's ranking as
one of the world's premier R&D forces, and strengthen its position as a leader
in pharmaceutical innovation.
According to Daniel Vasella, M.D., Chairman and CEO of Novartis AG, "Launching a
new research strategy and aligning our research under the leadership of a top
scientist will enhance the quality of our science and of our discovery efforts
and further our ability to provide innovative drugs for patients around the
world. Our establishment of NIBRI in Cambridge, in the midst of one of the
world's most impressive pools of scientific talent and academic institutions,
will help attract the best researchers and increase
research productivity by capitalizing on the vast increase in therapeutic
targets stemming from the sequencing of the human genome.
Dr. Mark Fishman joins Novartis as President of the Novartis Institute for
Biomedical Research Inc. from the position of Professor of Medicine, Harvard
Medical School, Chief, Cardiology Division, and Director of Cardiovascular
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Fishman's work changed the way
research is performed in the developmental biology of the cardiovascular system
by his introduction of the Zebra fish as a new model organism, particularly well
suited to gene discovery for heart and vessel development. These findings have
important implications for understanding new genes and pathways and the
progression of human disease. Dr. Fishman will also serve as a member of
Novartis' Executive Committee.
In welcoming Novartis to the "biotechnology state," Senator Edward Kennedy
(D-MA) said "Novartis will be a significant new resource for the city of
Cambridge, and for all the people of Massachusetts. Novartis' strong desire to
be in Cambridge further strengthens Kendall Square as being the epicenter of the
biotech world. In addition to bringing new jobs and growth to the area, today's
announcement of the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, the largest
centralized research facility in the world, means a strong commitment to
providing new hope and new cures to the millions of families living with
disease."
"Investments, such as the one Novartis is revealing today to establish NIBRI
Cambridge, provide hope to patients that new medicines, such as Novartis' novel
drug Glivec/Gleevec, which has helped so many patients, will be even further
accelerated in their discovery and development, bringing new treatments to those
who are suffering with some of today's most life-threatening diseases," said
Norman Scherzer, head of the Life Raft Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
patient group.
Paul Herrling, Ph.D., current Head of Novartis Research, will assume the
position of Head of Corporate Research, and maintain direct responsibility for
The Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases and the Friedrich Miescher
Institute, and serve on several boards of research institutions. Alex Matter,
M.D., current Head of Oncology Research, who led the team that discovered
Glivec/Gleevec, is being promoted to the position of Global Head of
Translational Research and Head of the Novartis Institute for Biomedical
Research in Basel.
Novartis, which obtained a higher number of US approvals for new molecular
entities than any competitor during the past two years, bringing its total to
nine such approvals in 2000 and 2001, and 15 approvals worldwide in 2001, is
widely recognized for having one of the industry's most impressive pipelines.
The long-term investment in the NIBRI campus, the bringing in of top research
talent, under the leadership of Dr. Mark Fishman, and the establishment of a
Cambridge campus, as well as the expansion underway in Switzerland, will ensure
that the company's strategic focus on innovation and lead in R&D is maintained.
Details of NIBRI will be unveiled today at a press conference in Cambridge,
Massachusetts that includes remarks by Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy and
Novartis executives. Press Conference: Monday, 6 May 2002, 2:00pm EST (8:00pm
CET).
A live webcast of the press conference may be accessed through a link on the
Novartis homepage at www.novartis.com. An archived version of the webcast will
be available on the website immediately following the announcement.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in
pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. In
2001, the Group's businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.0 billion (USD 19.1
billion) and a net income of CHF 7.0 billion (USD 4.2 billion). The Group
invested approximately CHF 4.2 billion (USD 2.5 billion) in R&D. Headquartered
in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 72,600 people and
operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please
consult http://www.novartis.com.
# # #
SIGNATURES
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.
Novartis AG
Date: May 7, 2002 By: /s/ Raymund Breu
---------------------------
Name: Raymund Breu
Title: Chief Financial Officer