Novartis highlights strong innovation momentum at investor conference

Novartis has held its second Meet Novartis Management investor day, during which it outlined the strong progress it has made towards its strategic goals.

The company expects to increase its core margin in 2015, thanks in part to portfolio transformation efforts and productivity improvements in line with 2015 full-year guidance, with good momentum seen across each of its main business units.

In pharmaceuticals, the firm is building breadth and depth across seven franchises, including oncology, where it is complementing leadership in targeted therapies and CART with immuno-oncology assets.

Its Alcon business is strengthening its intraocular lens pipeline and focusing on early-stage discovery in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, while the Sandoz division is looking to extend its lead in differentiated generics and biosimilars.

This follows recent efforts to refocus its business focus with the sale of its vaccines business to GlaxoSmithKline and influenza vaccines portfolio to CSL, as well as the acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline's oncology business.
 
Joseph Jimenez, chief executive officer of Novartis, said: "With the portfolio transformation behind us, management is focused on execution against our strategic priorities, including strengthening innovation across our three businesses."