Novartis is a world leader in the research and development of products to protect and improve health and well-being. Novartis was created in 1996 from the merger of the Swiss companies, Ciba and Sandoz.

The core businesses are in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. The name, derived from the Latin novae artes, meaning "new skills," reflects the company’s commitment to focus on research and development to bring innovative new products to the communities it serves.

As a multinational enterprise and a corporate citizen, Novartis is committed to promoting research, education and development projects all over the world. As part of this commitment, Novartis has established various initiatives and foundations in many countries.

See also http://www.novartis.com/about_novartis/en/index.shtml