Novartis extends tuberculosis drug donation to Tanzania

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* Dr. Vasella signs Memorandum of Understanding to continue
tuberculosis drug donation to Tanzania
* Donation includes 250,000 treatments worth USD 6 million over the
next three to four years
* Affirmation of overall commitment of Novartis to improve access
to medicines in developing countries

Basel, July 7, 2009 - Novartis announced today, the official
extension of its tuberculosis (TB) drug donation to Tanzania.
Novartis has already delivered nearly 250,000 TB treatments to
Tanzania between 2005 and 2008. With the new Memorandum of
Understanding, Novartis committed to extend the donation, delivering
another 250,000 treatments over the next 3 to 4 years. This donation
is worth about USD 6 million and aimed to treat an estimated 60,000
patients per year.

Dr. Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO of Novartis, also discussed with
President Kikwete the ongoing Novartis commitment to improve access
to medicines for patients in developing countries. Activities of
Novartis and its foundation range from research projects to drug
donations, social marketing programs and training of healthcare staff
in various disease areas such as malaria, leprosy, and TB. Klaus M.
Leisinger, President and CEO of the Novartis Foundation for
Sustainable Development, who was also present at the meeting,
addressed the role of the national government which is crucial in
improving access to healthcare.

"Addressing the health problems of the developing world is complex
and challenging,", said Dr Vasella, "No single player can be
successful. To make a meaningful and sustainable impact for patients
in the developing world, governments, international institutions,
industry, and civil society must join forces."

TB, a highly infectious disease, continues to claim nearly two
million victims per year mostly in developing countries. The disease
is very complex to treat, requiring a combination of drugs
administered over six to eight months. A lack of patient compliance
during this lengthy period has led to the emergence of
multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB. The recommended treatment for TB by
the World Health Organization is DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy
Short-course), an approach that requires patients to take their
medicines under direct daily observation by a medical professional.

In Tanzania, the Novartis Foundation has taken DOTS one step further.
The Patient-Centered TB Treatment (PCT) gives patients the choice to
follow treatment either at a health facility or at home supervised by
a family member. First results showed that 88% of TB patients chose
home-based treatment. Although patients are not observed by trained
personnel every day, treatments improved from 72% to 78% compared to
the old approach. PCT was first introduced to three pilot districts:
Arusha Municipal, Kahama, and Mufindi districts. The foundation works
closely with the Tanzanian National Tuberculosis Program of the
Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Apart from this work on the ground, Novartis also conducts research
on TB through the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in
Singapore. The main objective is to develop a novel treatment against
multi-drug-resistant TB, and to reduce the long treatment duration.

The TB drug donation will be carried out in cooperation with the
global Stop TB Partnership initiative.

About the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development plans and
supports projects designed to strengthen and secure essential
healthcare provision for the poor in developing countries. Through
its events and publications, it seeks to promote dialogue on
development policy between public and private-sector institutions. By
means of scientific analyses, it helps to define the nature and
limits of corporate social responsibility, particularly for
pharmaceutical companies. For further information, please visit
www.novartisfoundation.org.

About Novartis
Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving
needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare,
Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs:
innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive
vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is
the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2008, the
Group's continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5 billion
and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was
invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in
Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately
98,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140
countries around the world. For more information, please visit
http://www.novartis.com.
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Novartis Media Relations

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