Voltaren Gel (www.voltarengel.com or call 1-800-452-0051.
Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "will,"often leads to,"may be,"can be," or similar expressions, or by express or
implied discussions regarding potential future revenues from Voltaren Gel. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company regarding future events, and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Voltaren Gel will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding
commercialization of Voltaren Gel could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of
existing clinical data, competition in general, increased government, industry and general public pricing pressures, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation
generally, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. 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 AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, cure disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative
products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in
innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in
these areas. In 2006, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 37.0 billion and net income of USD 7.2 billion. Approximately USD 5.4 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered
in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 100,000 associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit our website
at http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_statistics.htm Accessed on
October 17, 2007.
2 National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Handout on Health:
Osteoarthritis. Available at: www.arthritis.org.
Accessed on October 17, 2007.
4 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [CDC (2007) Update: National and State Medical Expenditures and Lost Earnings Attributable to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic
Conditions--United States, 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 56(01):4-7.