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Novartis AG · 6-K · For 8/31/01

Filed On 8/21/01 · SEC File 1-15024 · Accession Number 947871-1-500629

  As Of               Filer                 Filing     As/For/On Docs:Pgs              Issuer               Agent

 8/21/01  Novartis AG                       6-K         8/31/01    2:78                                     Shearman & Sterl..LLP/FA

Report of a Foreign Private Issuer · Form 6-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 6-K         Report of Foreign Private Issuer                      11     54K 
 2: 6-K         Unofficial Form 6-K                                  PDF    157K

6-K · Report of Foreign Private Issuer

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF
 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Report on Form 6-K for the month of August, 2001

 Novartis AG
(Name of Registrant)

 Lichtstrasse 35
4056 Basel
 Switzerland
----------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports 
under cover of
Form 20-F or Form 40-F. 

 Form 20-F X   Form 40-F
             ---           ---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information     
contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the        
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes    No X 
   ---   ---

Enclosure:    Press release announcing "Novartis reports sustained growth in    
first half of 2001", dated August 16, 2001          

                                                        Page 1 of 11 Total Pages

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                                                       Novartis International AG
                                                    Novartis Communication
                                           CH-4002 Basel
                                         Switzerland

                                                  Tel + 41 61 324 2200
                                                  Fax + 41 61 324 3300
                                               Internet Address:
                                                     http://www.novartis.com

[NOVARTIS LOGO OMITTED]                                                         

MEDIA RELEASE o COMMUNIQUE AUX MEDIAS o MEDIENMITTEILUNG
Novartis reports sustained growth in first half of 2001                         

o    Group sales up 12% in local currencies (11% in Swiss francs) to CHF 15.5   
billion (USD 8.6 billion)                                             

o    Pharmaceuticals' sales grow 13% in local currencies, 21% in the US, and 9% 
in the rest of the world                                              

o    Operating income up 7% to CHF 3.5 billion (USD 1.9 billion) accompanied by 
increased investments in pharmaceutical launches and key products     

o    Net income climbs 10% in Swiss francs to CHF 3.7 billion (USD 2.1 billion) 

o    On track to achieve record financial targets for full year                 

Consolidated key figures from continuing activities                             

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                                     First half 2001                       First half 2000                    Change               
                                  USD m           CHF m             %           CHF m             %           CHF m         %      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                   
Sales                             8,591           15,464                        13,970                        1,494         11     
Operating income                  1,933            3,480                         3,266                          214          7     
in % of sales                                                      22.5                         23.4                               
Net income                        2,072            3,729                         3,396                          333         10     
in % of sales                                                      24.1                         24.3                               
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of employees                               70,166                        66,124                        4,042          6     
Earnings per share (CHF)                            1.44                          1.30                         0.14         11     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basel, 16 August 2001 - The Novartis Group continued to build on its strong     
first-quarter performance to post overall first-half sales of CHF 15.5 billion  
(USD 8.6 billion), an increase of 12% in local currencies or 11% in Swiss       
francs. Sales growth was driven by Pharmaceuticals and the sustained dynamism of
the US business, where Pharmaceuticals' sales climbed 21%.                      

In the Group's first half report, published today, Daniel Vasella Chairman and  
CEO commented: "As a result of our focus on healthcare and the good performance 
of our Pharmaceuticals business, we achieved double-digit growth both in sales  
and net income. Our increased level of investment in marketing and sales, with  
the priority on key growth drivers, resulted in a sales growth of 21% in        
Pharmaceuticals in the US. Furthermore, despite the difficult conditions        
prevailing in the financial markets, we managed to achieve financial results    
slightly superior to those of the previous year. I am confident that our        
pharmaceutical business will post double-digit sales growth in the second half  
of the year."                                                                   

All USD figures are convenience translations of CHF into USD                    
at a rate of 1.80. These translations should not be                             
construed as representations that the Swiss franc amounts                       
actually represent such US dollar amounts as could be                           
converted into US dollars at the rate indicated or at any                       
other rate.                                                                     

All product names appearing in italics are registered                           
trademarks of the Novartis Group.                                               

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Operating income up 7% to CHF 3.5 billion (USD 1.9 billion)                     
Overproportional investment in Pharmaceutical Marketing & Distribution to power 
key growth drivers, new product launches and the expansion of products into new 
indications and markets had the expected effect of lowering the Group's         
operating margin. Operating income increased 7% to CHF 3.5 billion (USD 1.9     
billion), resulting in an operating margin of 22.5% compared with 23.4% for the 
same period last year.                                                          

Net income rises 10% to CHF 3.7 billion (USD 2.1 billion)                       
Income from associated companies, primarily Chiron, increased CHF 53 million    
(USD 29 million) to CHF 77 million (USD 43 million). Despite difficult financial
market conditions, net financial income increased CHF 26 million (USD 14        
million) to CHF 952 million (USD 529 million), owing in particular to successful
fund management and the sale of US dollar bonds.                                

Strong balance sheet                                                            
At 30 June 2001, the strength of the Group's balance sheet was undiminished     
despite several significant transactions, including the acquisition, as a       
long-term financial investment, of 20% of the voting rights of Roche Holding AG 
for CHF 4.8 billion (USD 2.7 billion) in May, and further purchases of Novartis 
treasury shares under a second trading line for CHF 3.1 billion (USD 1.7        
billion).                                                                       

The Group's equity at 30 June 2001 remained at its 31 December 2000 level of CHF
36.9 billion (USD 20.5 billion). As a result of these and other transactions,   
net liquidity (marketable securities, cash and cash equivalents, less financial 
debt) was reduced by CHF 7.1 billion (USD 3.9 billion) to CHF 7.3 billion (USD  
4.1 billion). The debt/equity ratio changed from 0.16:1 on 31 December 2000 to  
0.21:1 on 30 June 2001.                                                         

Free cash flow from continuing activities, excluding amounts related to changes 
in intangible and financial assets, amounted to CHF 110 million (USD 61 million)
in the first six months of 2001, less than the CHF 304 million (USD 169 milion) 
in the prior period, owing to increases in dividends, net current assets and    
investments in tangible fixed assets.                                           

Personnel                                                                       
The number of employees increased from 67,653 on 31 December 2000 to 70,166 on  
30 June 2001. Pharmaceuticals increased by approximately 1400 as it continued to
expand its sales force, which now comprises 16,700 worldwide (of which          
approximately 5,100 are in the US). Generics also increased by more than 1,100  
principally as a result of acquisitions.                                        

Outlook                                                                         
The Group expects double-digit sales growth for Pharmaceuticals in 2001, based  
on the performance of key brands, new product launches and new indications,     
including Gleevec/Glivec, Femara and Zometa.                                    

Pharmaceuticals' operating income is expected to rise, although a decline of    
approximately two percentage points in the operating margin is foreseen as a    
result of continued investment in order to expand the market share of key growth
drivers.                                                                        

The remaining sectors are expected to develop in line with their first-half     
performances.                                                                   

Barring any unforeseen disturbances, full-year Group operating income and net   
income are expected to exceed last year's level on an ongoing basis.            

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Sector reviews                                                                  

Pharmaceuticals                                                                 

Sales                                                                           
Pharmaceuticals' sales (+13% in local currencies) were lifted by the strong     
performances of key Primary Care brands and recently launched products in       
Oncology and Ophthalmics.                                                       

Primary Care                                                                    
Diovan (+53%; hypertension) is now the fastest growing top-ten antihypertensive 
in the US. It was filed globally for congestive heart failure, and has received 
priority review in the US for this indication. Novartis' cardiovascular         
franchise was further strengthened as Lotrel (+47%; hypertension) sustained     
strong double-digit growth in the US.                                           

Starlix (sales to end of June: CHF 29 million; USD 16 million), the type 2      
diabetes treatment, has experienced a gradual increase in prescriptions since   
its US launch in February and prescribers are becoming more familiar with this  
new approach to managing postprandial glucose. A large scale multinational study
(NAVIGATOR) is to assess and profile potential benefits of both Diovan and      
Starlix in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardivascular disease.         

Lamisil (+18%; fungal infections) continued to gain segment share, buoyed by a  
new wave of direct-to-consumer advertising in the US.                           

Miacalcic (+12%; osteoporosis) continued to post double-digit growth as the     
osteoporosis segment expands due to demographic changes.                        

Exelon (+174%; Alzheimer's disease) sales topped CHF 220 million (USD 122       
million), with a good performance worldwide, particularly in the US.            

Trileptal (+69%; epilepsy) built on its dynamic launch to post total sales of   
CHF 98 million (USD 54 million).                                                

Foradil (+24%; asthma) achieved sales of CHF 199 million (USD 111 million) and  
was launched in the US. Foradil is also under review by the FDA for approval in 
the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an indication    
that has already gained approval in several European countries.                 

Elidel (inflammatory skin disease) was filed for regulatory approval in Europe  
in June, having been filed in the US towards the end of last year.              

In June, the FDA issued a 'not-approvable' letter for Zelnorm/Zelmac            
(constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome) requesting further          
information. The company is submitting an appeal to the FDA regarding the       
decision. The application for regulatory approval was withdrawn in Europe.      
Subsequent to these decisions, Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb have mutually  
decided not to pursue the collaboration established to develop and commercialize
tegaserod (Zelmac/Zelnorm). Novartis recently launched Zelmac in its first      
market, Mexico.                                                                 

The FDA also requested additional data for the new asthma treatment Xolair, and 
the amended file is currently expected to be submitted towards the end of 2002, 
or early in 2003.                                                               

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Mature Products                                                                 
Of the Mature Products, Voltaren (-10%; inflammation) faced continued pressure  
from generic products in various markets; however, the sales decline was modest 
and lower than in the comparative period of 2000.                               

Oncology                                                                        
The Novartis Oncology business experienced dynamic growth fuelled by solid      
performances of Sandostatin (+31%; acromegaly) and Novartis' leading            
bisphosphonate Aredia (+28%; cancer complications). Zometa (hypercalcemia of    
malignancy), the more potent successor compound to Aredia, got off to a solid   
start in Europe after its introduction in Germany in May, and has now been      
approved in 19 countries. US approval is pending.                               

Sandoglobulin sales (CHF 101 million; USD 56 million; -31%) contracted,         
especially in the US (-39%), as the manufacturer continues to reduce supply.    

Gleevec/Glivec gained US approval for chronic myeloid leukemia within two and a 
half months of filing, making this the fastest time to market of any cancer     
treatment. The drug was distributed to patients within just 24 hours of US      
approval. It is now approved in some twenty countries and posted sales of CHF 58
million (USD 32 million) by the end of June.                                    

Launched in February in Europe and the US as first-line therapy for advanced    
postmenopausal breast cancer, Femara achieved sales growth of 64%. Due to its   
proven superiority over tamoxifen, it has won category leadership in France,    
Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Switzerland and Australia.                              

Ophthalmics                                                                     
Visudyne (+254%; a form of wet age-related macular degeneration) sales reached  
CHF 178 million (USD 99 million), benefiting from European reimbursement gained 
earlier in the year and boosted by additional revenues from the pathologic      
myopia indication approved in Europe in January.                                

Transplantation                                                                 
Expanding sales of Neoral in Japan contributed to supporting overall sales of   
the gold-standard immunosuppressant Sandimmun/Neoral (-8%). Despite increased   
generic competition, the erosion of US sales (-25%) is broadly in line with the 
index for other critical dose drugs. This again reflects the fact that many     
physicians prefer to maintain patients who are stable and doing well on Neoral, 
as rejection episodes impair long-term outcome.                                 

Strengthened US pharmaceuticals operation                                       
The US (+21%) reported continued strong growth, particularly from Diovan (+40%) 
and Lotrel (+47%), despite intense competition. Femara (+144%), boosted by its  
new indication, and Visudyne (+241%) were other important contributors to US    
pharmaceutical sales, which now make up 41% of Pharmaceuticals' total revenues. 

Operating income                                                                
Investments in Marketing & Distribution increased overproportionally as a result
of field force expansion, in particular in the US, and the intensified          
promotional activities associated with product launches and growth drivers.     
Research & Development investments reached CHF 1.7 billion (USD 0.9 billion) or 
17% of sales, increasing in absolute terms from CHF 1.6 billion. Overall, the   
operating margin eased down 1.6 percentage points as predicted.                 

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Generics                                                                        

Sales                                                                           
Overall sales in Generics grew 12% worldwide in local currencies despite a 2%   
decline in the US. Sales growth was lifted 16 percentage points by recent       
acquisitions. The industrial generics business posted a solid performance and   
benefited from a partial recovery of certain anti-infective prices. The active  
ingredients business performed well particularly in Japan and Western Europe.   

With the Sector's market presence strengthened through recent acquisitions in   
Europe, the US and Latin America, the retail business reported strong sales     
growth. In the key US market, price pressures and increased competition impacted
sales growth, whilst in Europe, sales were lifted by significant expansion of   
the product portfolio, including the launch in Germany of Azupharma's macrolid  
antibiotic, Roxithromycin.                                                      

Operating income                                                                
Generics' operating margin declined 8.6 percentage points to 12.6% as a result  
of restructuring costs in the US, additional costs for the integration of recent
acquisitions, increased investments for new product launches and continued price
pressures in the retail business. Operating income was CHF 141 million (USD 78  
million) and is expected to benefit in the second half from the recent          
restructuring at Geneva Pharmaceuticals and expected new product launches.      
Whilst Marketing & Distribution expenses increased substantially, Research &    
Development investments were maintained at 7% of sales.                         

Consumer Health                                                                 

Sales                                                                           
Sales of over-the-counter medicines (OTC) rose 4% in local currencies with the  
key brands Voltaren Emulgel (topical pain), Lamisil Cream (antifungal),         
Triaminic (pediatric cold remedy) and Nicotinell/Habitrol (smoking cessation)   
continuing to perform well. Maalox Max (antacid plus anti-gas) was launched in  
April and has begun to counter inroads made by competitor products (H2 receptor 
antagonists). Overall, growth was achieved despite the weak cough and cold      
season and the withdrawal of products containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA). A   
new PPA-free formulation of Tavist (allergy, sinus, headache) was launched in   
April. Lamisil Cream was successfully introduced in the OTC markets of Germany  
and the UK.                                                                     

The growth in Medical Nutrition (+6%) reflected good results in Europe and Latin
America. The US performance was less robust due to a decline in the tube feeding
business. On the other hand, the dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) and wound    
care products posted strong sales.                                              

In Health & Functional Nutrition (+3%), Gerber increased its share of the US    
baby/toddler food segment to more than 75%, despite strong competition. The     
Gerber food line was launched in South Africa, and Gerber Baby Care closed the  
gap on the segment leader.                                                      

Operating income                                                                
Operating income was maintained at CHF 385 million (USD 214 million) resulting  
in an operating margin of 11.7% compared with 12.2% in the prior period. The    
decline was due to one-time costs associated with the transfer of Ovaltine      
production from the UK to Switzerland. As a percentage of sales, investments in 
Marketing & Distribution and Research & Development were maintained at last     
year's level. Research & Development investment focused mainly on OTC           
development projects.                                                           

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CIBA Vision                                                                     

Sales                                                                           
A significant boost came from sales generated by Wesley Jessen products, which  
added 43 percentage points to the underlying growth. The lens business achieved 
strong sales growth, driven by the Wesley Jessen line of contact lenses acquired
in October 2000, as well as by Focus DAILIES and Focus NIGHT & DAY. The decline 
in sales of conventional lens products reflected the continued market trend     
towards disposable products such as Focus DAILIES. The lens care business, which
is also affected by this trend, reported diminishing sales, while Refractive    
Surgery showed strong growth resulting from the re-launch of the MemoryLens.    

Overall, the US and Europe performed well, whilst growth in Japan was           
constrained by the availability of Focus DAILIES.                               

In the first half, CIBA Vision launched FreshLook ColorBlends Toric lenses, the 
world's first disposable cosmetic toric lenses and SOLO-care Plus, an enhanced  
one-bottle lens-care disinfection system. The company also received US marketing
clearance for Focus DAILIES Progressives, the world's first daily disposable    
multi-focal lens for presbyopic correction.                                     

Operating income                                                                
Operating income dipped CHF 19 million (USD 11 million) to CHF 87 million (USD  
48 million), owing to exceptional factors associated with the acquisition of    
Wesley Jessen (CHF 31 million; USD 17 million). Investments in Marketing &      
Distribution grew slower than sales, while Research & Development increased     
slightly to 5.5% of sales. General & Administration costs increased at a higher 
rate than sales, owing to expenses related to the integration of Wesley Jessen. 
As a result, the operating margin dropped 7.3 percentage points to 9.9%.        
Excluding these exceptional costs CIBA Vision achieved an operating income of   
CHF 118 million (USD 66 million) and an operating margin of 13.4%.              

Animal Health                                                                   

Sales                                                                           
Sales were down 2% in local currencies. Shortfalls in the US, due to the        
economic slow-down and competitive pressures in the flea treatment segment, and 
set-backs in the UK, due to the devastating effect of foot-and-mouth disease,   
were largely offset by the performance in Latin America and Asia. Significant   
sales growth was achieved by Tiamulin (respiratory and gastroenteric diseases in
pigs) and by the recently acquired vaccine businesses. Fortekor, the heart      
failure product for dogs, also grew strongly, boosted by the additional         
indication of renal insufficiency in cats.                                      

Operating income                                                                
In spite of the drop in sales, operating income was maintained at CHF 66 million
(USD 37 million). The operating margin rose from 12.8% to 13.5% as productivity 
improved and exceptional costs associated with the Agribusiness spin-off last   
year did not recur. As a result, General & Administration costs improved, whilst
major investments in Marketing & Distribution were associated with a doubling of
the sales force in the US. Research & Development investments were also         
stepped-up by CHF 7 million (USD 4 million) to CHF 45 million (USD 25 million)  
(9% of sales) as new projects, in particular in the vaccine business, were      
initiated.                                                                      

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the     
Group's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking         
terminology such as "expects", "estimates", "promising", "will", "anticipates"  
or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such

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statements include descriptions of new products expected to be introduced or    
have been introduced by the Group and anticipated customer demand for such      
products. Such statements reflect the current views of the Group with respect to
future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  
Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the 
Group to be materially different from any future results, performances or       
achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking           
statements. Some of these are uncertainties relating to clinical trials and     
product development, unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation      
generally, and obtaining and protecting intellectual property, as well as       
factors discussed in the Group's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and        
Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties         
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results   
may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed,       
estimated or expected.                                                          

Novartis (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in    
pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. In     
2000, the Group's ongoing businesses achieved sales of CHF 29.1 billion (USD    
17.2 billion) and a net income of CHF 6.5 billion (USD 3.9 billion). The Group  
invested approximately CHF 4.0 billion (USD 2.4 billion) in R&D. Headquartered  
in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 70 000 people and operates in over
140 countries around the world. For further information please consult          
http://www.novartis.com                                                         

For details of the first-half performance and financials please consult         
Novartis' half-year report 2001, which is available via the internet at:        
http://www.novartis.com/downloads/corporate_publications/halfyear01_e.pdf or, on
request from Novartis International AG, Novartis Commuication, 4002 Basel,      
Switzerland.                                                                    

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Sales from continuing activities by sector                                      

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                        First half 2001     First half 2000                 Change                 

                                                              in CHF m      in CHF         in local
                       USD m        CHF m       CHF m                          %       currencies %
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   
Pharmaceuticals        5,383        9,689        8,669(1)      1,020           12           13     
Generics                 623        1,121        1,012(1)        109           11           12     
Consumer Health        1,824        3,283        3,157(1)        126            4            4     
CIBA Vision              489          881          618(1)        263           43           45     
Animal Health            272          490          514           -24           -5           -2     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                  8,591       15,464       13,970         1,494           11           12     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating income from continuing activities by sector                           

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                        First half 2001                       First half 2000             Change       
                                                 % of                     % of                         
                       USD m       CHF m         sales    CHF m           sales     in CHF m      in % 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                                                                                                       
Pharmaceuticals        1,497       2,695         27.8     2,551(1)         29.4       144           6  
Generics                  78         141         12.6       215(1)         21.2       -74         -34  
Consumer Health          214         385         11.7       385(1)         12.2         0           0  
CIBA Vision              482         872          9.9       106(1)         17.2       -19         -18  
Animal Health             37          66         13.5        66            12.8         0           0  
Corporate and                                                                                          
  other expenses          59         106                    -57                       163              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Total                  1,933       3,480         22.5     3,266            23.4       214           7  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

1 Restated to reflect the transfer, as of 1 January 2001, of the Ophthalmics    
business from CIBA Vision to Pharmaceuticals and the switch of certain products 
between sectors.                                                                

2 Excluding exceptionals associated with the Wesley Jessen acquisition (CHF 31  
million), operating income would have been CHF 118 million, reflecting an       
increase of 11% in Swiss francs and an operating margin of 13.4%.               

Consolidated income statement for continuing activities                         

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                                         First half 2001     First half 2000   Change in          
                                        USD m       CHF          CHF m         CHF m            % 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                                  
Total sales                             8,591       15,464       13,970        1,494           11 
Cost of goods sold                      2,113        3,804        3,454          350           10 
Gross profit                            6,478       11,660       10,516        1,144           11 
Marketing & Distribution                3,034        5,462        4,539          923           20 
Research & Development                  1,117        2,010        1,870          140            7 
General & Administration                  393          708          841         -133          -16 
Operating income                        1,934        3,480        3,266          214            7 
Income from associated companies           43           77           24           53          221 
Financial income, net                     529          952          926           26            3 
Income before taxes and                                                                           
   minority interests                   2,506        4,509        4,216          293            7 
Taxes                                     427          768          806          -38           -5 
Minority interests                          7           12           14           -2          -14 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Net income                              2,072        3,729        3,396          333           10 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

All USD figures are convenience translations of CHF into USD at a rate of 1.80. 
These translations should not be construed as representations that the Swiss    
franc amounts actually represent such US dollar amounts as could be converted   
into US dollars at the rate indicated or at any other rate.                     

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Top 20 pharmaceutical products                                                  

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                        US First half 2001              RoW First half 2001               Total First half 2001                     
                                              % Change                         % Change                              % Change       
                                              in local                         in local                                    in local 
                         USD m      CHF m    currencies   USD m      CHF m    currencies    USD m     CHF m     in CHF    currencies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                                                                    
Sandimmun/Neoral          143        257        -25        372        670          1        515        927        -10         -8    
Diovan/Co-Diovan          212        382         40        236        424         66        448        806         52         53    
Cibacen/Lotensin          323        582         27         61        110         -6        384        692         23         20    
  of which Lotrel         192        346         47          0          0          0        192        346         51         47    
Aredia                    240        432         28        131        236         27        371        668         28         28    
Lamisil                   180        324         19        167        300         17        347        624         17         18    
Voltaren                    6         10        -74        297        535         -5        303        545        -14        -10    
Sandostatin(group)         94        170         47        131        236         21        225        406         29         31    
Miacalcic                 138        249         13         76        136         12        214        385         14         12    
Lescol                     82        148         -6        109        196          6        191        344         -1          1    
Tegretol                   66        118         -2        117        210         -3        183        328         -4         -2    
Leponex/Clozaril           64        115        -24         84        151          4        148        266        -11        -10    
Estraderm (group)          53         96          4         74        134         -8        127        230         -4         -3    
Exelon                     69        125        311         53         95         95        122        220        175        174    
Foradil                     3          6         --        107        193         20        110        199         21         24    
Famvir (group)             76        136         --         29         53         --        105        189         --         --    
Visudyne                   64        115        241         35         63        278         99        178        259        254    
Nitroderm TTS               0          0         --         91        163         -2         91        163         -9         -4    
Zaditen                     0          0          0         83        150         -6         83        150        -13         -6    
Parlodel                   18         32         93         43         78        -12         61        110         -2          3    
Desferal                   19         35         28         38         68         25         57        103         25         26    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Top ten total           1,484      2,672         14      1,697      3,053         10      3,181      5,725         11         12    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Top twenty total        1,850      3,332         24      2,334      4,201         12      4,184      7,533         15         17    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Rest of portfolio         354        635         10        845      1,521          1      1,199      2,156          1          3    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Total                   2,204      3,967         21      3,179      5,722          9      5,383      9,689         12         13    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

All USD figures are convenience translations of CHF into USD at a rate of 1.80. These translations should not be construed as       
representations that the Swiss franc amounts actually represent such US dollar amounts as could be converted into US dollars at the 
rate indicated or at any other rate.                                                                                                

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SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the    
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.                                         

                     Novartis AG

Date:  August 21, 2001                       By:  /s/ Raymund Breu              
                                               -------------------------------
                              Name:   Raymund Breu
                                         Title:  Chief Financial Officer

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Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated By Reference

		Referenced-On Page
This 6-K Filing	Date	First	Last	Other Filings

	8/16/01	1
Filed On / Filed As Of	8/21/01	11
For The Period Ended	8/31/01			6-K

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Filing Submission - Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, SGML, XML, et al.)

Novartis AG · 6-K · For 8/31/01

Filed On 8/21/01 · SEC File 1-15024 · Accession Number 947871-1-500629

Report of a Foreign Private Issuer · Form 6-KFiling Table of Contents

6-K · Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated By Reference

Report of a Foreign Private Issuer · Form 6-K
Filing Table of Contents