Novartis and GSK transfer of oncology products and vaccines completed

Novartis has announced that it has completed a series of transactions with GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), including the acquisition of certain oncology products and pipeline compounds from GSK, the creation of a world-leading consumer healthcare business through a joint venture that combines the two companies' consumer divisions, and the divestiture of the Novartis non-influenza Vaccines business to GSK. Since the end of 2013, Novartis has engaged in a series of transactions to sharpen the company's focus on three core business segments with global scale: innovative pharmaceuticals, eye care and generics. As a result of the announcement: • Novartis Oncology now manages a portfolio of 22 oncology and hematology medicines to treat more than 25 conditions worldwide. Newly-acquired therapies in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and hematology complement Novartis Oncology's existing group of practice-changing medicines to create a large portfolio of drugs in oncology and hematology targeting important biological disease pathways. • Based on the depth and breadth of the Novartis Oncology R&D and commercial capabilities, it is anticipated that Novartis will be able to optimize the therapies acquired from GSK. These include: 1.Tafinlar, a BRAF inhibitor, and Mekinist, a MEK inhibitor, both approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. On February 6, 2015, GSK announced overall survival results from the COMBI-d trial which demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in the risk of death (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.71 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.55, 0.92], p=0.011) for the combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist compared to Tafinlar monotherapy in patients with BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive metastatic melanoma. 2.Votrient, a VEGFR inhibitor for renal cell carcinoma, which has shown significant efficacy as first-line treatment for renal cancer. 3.Promacta for thrombocytopenia, 4.Tykerb for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer and 5. Arzerra in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are also included in the transaction. • Novartis also has opt-in rights for GSK's current and future oncology R&D pipeline (excluding oncology vaccines), which could be a source of new compounds and new targets. Sales of the acquired GSK oncology products in 2014 were approximately USD 2.0 billion and grew approximately 32% in local currency against 2013. • Novartis OTC and GSK Consumer Healthcare jointly form a global consumer healthcare leader ("GSK Consumer Healthcare") in which Novartis maintains significant interest through the ownership of a 36.5% share. GSK Consumer Healthcare is expected to have leading positions in four key OTC categories - Wellness, Oral Health, Nutrition and Skin Health. The joint venture has scale and commercial presence in the developed world as well as in key emerging markets. • The Novartis non -influenza Vaccines business has been divested to GSK.