Basel, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)

Key figures

    First nine months
                          Nine months 2004      Nine months 2003    % Change
                          USD m   % of sales    USD m  % of sales  USD  lc[1]
    Sales                 20 669                18 134             14      9
    Pharmaceutical                              11 641             16     11
    sales                 13 528
    Consumer Health                              6 493             10      5
    sales                  7 141
    Operating income       5 005       24.2      4 283      23.6   17
    Net income             4 389       21.2      3 656      20.2   20
    Basic earnings per       USD                   USD
    share/ADS               1.79                  1.48             21

Third quarter

                            Q3 2004             Q3 2003              % Change
                          USD m   % of sales     USD m   % of sales  USD   lc
    Sales                 7 057                  6 210               14     9
    Pharmaceutical                               4 041               15    11
    sales                 4 646
    Consumer Health                              2 169               11     7
    sales                 2 411
    Operating income      1 717       24.3       1 469      23.7     17
    Net income            1 547       21.9       1 277      20.6     21
    Basic earnings per    USD                    USD
    share/ADS             0.63                   0.52                21

[1] lc - Local currencies

• Nine-month sales rise 14% (+9% lc) to USD 20.7 billion, with Pharmaceuticals growing 16% (+11% lc) and Consumer Health advancing 10% (+5% lc)
• Pharmaceuticals continues to achieve strong double-digit growth and market share gains in a slowing global healthcare market, driven by enhanced leadership positions in the cardiovascular and oncology franchises
• Consumer Health sales up 10% in USD due mainly to double-digit growth in OTC and Medical Nutrition, offsetting lower sales growth in Sandoz generics business
• Operating income advances faster than sales, rising 17% to USD 5.0 billion, owing to excellent business performance and effective resource allocation
• Net income up 20% to USD 4.4 billion, while EPS advances 21% to USD 1.79 per share

Please find the full press release under the following link:
http://www.novartis.com

Contact:

John Gilardi, Novartis Global Media Relations, Tel +41-61-324-3018 or
+41-61-324-2200, john.gilardi@group.novartis.com. Nehl Horton,
Novartis Global Media Relations, Tel +41-61-324-5749 or
+41-61-324-2200, nehl.horton@group.novartis.com