Novartis receives China Charity Award for relief efforts to Chinese earthquake victims

• China Bureau of Civil Affairs recognizes Novartis for providing immediate and long-term relief to the earthquake region
• Novartis provided immediate medical supplies and financial donations to the YaAn disaster area in the MingShan district
• Contributions from Novartis associates are supporting the reconstruction of a new school and health unit

Basel, December 10, 2008 — Novartis was honored with the China Charity Award by the China Bureau of Civil Affairs during a ceremony in Beijing on December 5. Novartis received the award at a ceremony in Beijing in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and executive vice premier LI Keqiang, in recognition for its immediate and sustained efforts in supporting relief efforts in the wake of the earthquake that struck western China on May 12.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from the Chinese government,” said Thomas Wellauer, Head of Corporate Affairs, Novartis International AG. “The China Charity Award recognizes our contributions to the earthquake relief and our focus on the needs of the people in the communities in which we operate.”

Novartis contributions for the earthquake relief efforts totaled more than RMB 15 million (USD 2 million) in cash and medicines. These included the dispatch of 20 000 units of the antibiotic amoxicillin to the disaster area from Sandoz, the generics Division of Novartis immediately after the disaster, as well as contributions from 2 726 Novartis associates totaling USD 135 000. The financial contributions are supporting earthquake relief efforts and reconstruction projects in the YaAn area in cooperation with the China Red Cross.

Some of the funds are aiding the reconstruction of a primary school in a poor village. The ground-breaking ceremony took place October 12, 2008 and the school is expected to open in May 2009. The funds also supported construction of a new health unit in the same area which will open in spring 2009.

Novartis has a long-standing relationship with the China Charity Foundation which also acts as the local partner in China for the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP). Together with projects such as the GIPAP, support for cancer patients in China reached more than 6 500 patients and totaled RMB 3.04 million (USD 450 000) by August 2008.

As one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Novartis knows its most important contribution to patients is researching, developing, and providing medicines to treat and prevent disease, ease suffering, and improve quality of life.