Who Owns Lucentis?

What does Novartis own?
Novartis owns a portfolio of innovative prescription medicines across oncology, immunology, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and ophthalmology. Key products include Cosentyx (inflammatory diseases), Entresto (heart failure), Kisqali (breast cancer), Kesimpta (multiple sclerosis), Leqvio (cholesterol), Zolgensma (gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy), Pluvicto (prostate cancer radioligand therapy), and Kymriah (CAR-T cell therapy). Novartis spun off its Sandoz generics division in 2023 and its Alcon eye care division in 2019, both of which are now independent publicly listed companies.

Is Novartis publicly traded?
Yes, Novartis AG is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker NOVN and on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker NVS (as American Depositary Receipts). The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and Norges Bank Investment Management. The Novartis Foundation for Employee Participation also holds a significant stake.

What is Novartis's revenue?
Novartis reported FY2025 net sales of $50.3 billion, up 12% year over year (17% in constant currencies). Core operating income grew 15% (19% in constant currencies). For 2026, the company guides net sales growth of high single digits and core operating income growth of low double digits. The long-term outlook through 2030 calls for 5% net sales growth and 7% core operating income growth. Revenue is primarily generated from prescription medicine sales in more than 140 countries.

Who founded Novartis?
Novartis was formed in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, two of Switzerland's oldest pharmaceutical companies. Ciba-Geigy itself was formed through the 1970 merger of Ciba (founded 1859) and Geigy (founded 1758), both based in Basel. Sandoz was founded in 1886 in Basel. The 1996 merger, valued at approximately $63 billion, was one of the largest corporate mergers in history at the time. The name Novartis comes from the Latin "novae artes," meaning "new skills."

Where is Novartis headquartered?
Novartis AG is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Basel has been the center of the Swiss pharmaceutical industry for more than a century, and both Novartis and Roche, another major pharmaceutical company, are headquartered in the city. Novartis operates manufacturing and research facilities in Switzerland, the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, India, Singapore, and Brazil, and sells products in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Who is the CEO of Novartis?
Vas Narasimhan has served as CEO of Novartis since February 2018. He is a physician by training and has emphasized data science, digital health, and a focused innovative medicines strategy during his tenure. Under his leadership, Novartis spun off Sandoz (2023) and Alcon (2019), transforming the company from a diversified healthcare conglomerate into a focused innovative medicines company. Joerg Reinhardt chairs the board of directors.

What is Novartis's market position?
Novartis is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue, with FY2025 net sales of $50.3 billion. The company competes against Roche, Pfizer, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Eli Lilly. Its FY2025 constant-currency sales growth of 17% outpaced many large-cap pharmaceutical peers. The company's long-term outlook of 5% net sales growth through 2030 positions it among the faster-growing companies in the large-cap pharmaceutical sector.