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 15, 2014
(Commission File No. 1-15024)
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:
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Form 20-F: x |
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Form 40-F: o |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
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Yes: o |
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No: x |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
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Yes: o |
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No: x |
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.
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Yes: o |
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No: x |
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Novartis International AG |
MEDIA RELEASE · COMMUNIQUE AUX MEDIAS · MEDIENMITTEILUNG
Novartis settles patent litigation on Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) with Sun Pharma subsidiary
· Litigation settlement upholds validity of US patents covering polymorphic forms of Gleevec and permits Sun Pharma subsidiary to launch a generic version on February 1, 2016
· Patents are vital to the ability of innovative companies like Novartis to invest in high-risk research to advance breakthrough treatments for patients
Basel, Switzerland, May 15, 2014 — Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has settled its litigation with the United States subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. relating to Novartis patents covering the use of certain polymorphic forms of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate), which expire in 2019 (including pediatric exclusivity). The basic compound patent for Gleevec expires in the U.S. on July 4, 2015.
As a result of the settlement, Novartis will permit Sun Pharma’s subsidiary to market a generic version of Gleevec in the United States on February 1, 2016. The terms of the settlement agreement are otherwise confidential. Sun Pharma’s subsidiary has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its generic version of imatinib mesylate.
Patents are vital to the ability of innovative companies like Novartis to invest in high-risk research to advance breakthrough treatments for patients without treatment options. This settlement validates the Novartis patents while allowing Sun Pharma’s subsidiary to enter the market with its generic product.
Novartis is the first healthcare company with a global leadership position in both patented prescription and generic pharmaceuticals. Offering high-quality generics through its Sandoz division plays a critical role in the Novartis strategy of offering a complete range of treatment options to patients, physicians and healthcare providers worldwide.
Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as “permits,” “to launch,” “expire,” “will,” “tentative,” “to enter,” “strategy,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential future revenues from Gleevec. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Gleevec will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management’s expectations regarding Gleevec could be affected by, among other things, the company’s ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation
generally; unexpected manufacturing issues; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 135,000 full-time-equivalent associates and sell products in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis.
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Novartis Media Relations
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Central media line : +41 61 324 2200 |
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Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com |
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Geoffrey Cook Novartis Oncology Communications +1 862 778 2675 +1 973 652 7927 geoffrey.cook@novartis.com |
e-mail: media.relations@novartis.com
For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Novartis For questions about the site or required registration, please contact: journalisthelp@thenewsmarket.com.
Novartis Investor Relations
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Central phone: |
+41 61 324 7944 |
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Samir Shah |
+41 61 324 7944 |
North America: |
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Pierre-Michel Bringer |
+41 61 324 1065 |
Stephen Rubino |
+1 862 778 8301 |
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Thomas Hungerbuehler |
+41 61 324 8425 |
Susan Donofrio |
+1 862 778 9257 |
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Isabella Zinck |
+41 61 324 7188 |
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e-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com |
e-mail: investor.relations@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.
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Novartis AG | |||
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Date: |
May 15, 2014 |
By: |
/s/ MALCOLM B. CHEETHAM | |
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Name: |
Malcolm B. Cheetham | ||
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Title: |
Head Group Financial | ||
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Reporting and Accounting | ||