Novartis AG History

Company Perspectives:

We, at Novartis, are committed to improving health and well-being through innovative products and services. We aspire to capture and hold a leadership position in all of our businesses with a strong, sustainable performance based on continuous innovation. Our long-term success is founded on meeting the expectations of all our stakeholders--our customers, our people, our shareholders and the communities in which we live and work. This is who we are. Key Dates:

Key Dates:

1859:

Alexander Clavel founds silk dyeing works in Basel, Switzerland .

1886:

Kern & Sandoz is formed.

1898:

Geigy is founded in Grenzach, Germany.

1911:

Sandoz Chemical Company Ltd. begins operations in England.

1917:

Arthur Stoll creates Pharmaceutical Department at Sandoz.

1918:

Ciba, Sandoz, and Geigy form Basel AG cartel.

1929:

Basel AG joins IG Farben to form Dual Cartel.

1935:

Geigy begins producing insecticides.

1939:

Dr. Paul Mueller discovers insecticidal properties of DDT.

1949:

Geigy launches anti-rheumatic drug Butazolidin.

1951:

Basel AG is dissolved.

1958:

Sandoz launches neuroleptic drug Melleril.

1964:

Sandoz forms research center in East Hanover, New Jersey.

1970:

Ciba and Geigy merge to form Ciba-Geigy Ltd.

1974:

Ciba-Geigy Ltd. acquires Funk Seeds International.

1980:

Ciba-Geigy Ltd. forms biotechnology unit.

1987:

Ciba-Vision is formed.

1996:

Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merge to form Novartis AG

1999:

Novartis divests seed and crop protection holdings.

Company History:

Further Reading:

• Buckley, Neil, 'More on Gene-Modified Food,' Financial Times (London), July 25, 1997.
• Capell, Kerry, with Heidi Dawley, 'Healing Novartis,' Business Week, November 8, 1999.
• Enri, Paul, The Basel Marriage: History of the Ciba-Geigy Merger, Zurich, Switzerland: Neue Zurcher Zeitung, 1979.
• Fisher, Lawrence M., 'Two Deals Extend the Financial Frontiers of Gene Therapy,' New York Times, January 14, 1997.
• Ford, Peter, 'Wary Europe Enters Biotech Age,' Christian Science Monitor, June 10, 1998.
• Gebhart, Fred, 'Skin Patch Makers Fight to Be No. 1 in War on Nicotine,' Drug Topics, January 20, 1992, p. 26.
• Graham, David E., 'Plant Genetics to Grow Here: Swiss Company Announces $600 Million Biotech Lab,' San Diego Union-Tribune, July 22, 1998.
• Hall, William, 'Sandoz and Ciba to Sell Part of U.S. Business,' Financial Times (London), August 29, 1996.
• Hunter, David, 'Ciba-Geigy: Back to the Roots for Renewed Growth,' Chemical Week, June 21, 1989, p. 21.
• Kirschner, Elisabeth, 'Ciba-Geigy and New Jersey Settle Toms River Battle,' Chemical Week, March 11, 1992, p. 14.
• Lichtenstein, William, 'The Toms River Experience,' Chemical Engineering, April 1991, p. 45.
• McCarthy, Joseph L., 'Alex Kraurer: Ciba-Geigy,' Chief Executive, July/August 1992, p. 20.
• Michaels, Adrian, 'Novartis Hopes New Drugs Will Boost US Sales,' Financial Times (London), February 15, 2001.
• Morris, Gregory D., 'Ciba-Geigy Enters the $1.5 Billion/Year Corn Biotech Race,' Chemical Week, September 12, 1990, p. 12.
• Shon, Melissa, 'Nicotine Patch Market Takes a Fall, But Why?,' Chemical Marketing Reporter, September 14, 1992, p. 5.
• Wilsher, Peter, 'The Feeling Grows That Going Green Is Good for Business,' Management Today, October 1991, p. 27.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 39. St. James Press, 2001.