Novartis executives recently met investors and industry analysts in Basel, sharing insights into the updated company strategy at the annual Meet Novartis Management event. The meeting will allow participants to learn more about Novartis journey to unite technology leadership in Research and Development with novel access approaches, helping to alleviate some of society’s greatest disease burdens.

“Novartis is transforming into a ‘pure-play’ Innovative Medicines company. Our strategy is focused on five core attractive therapeutic areas, key technology platforms, and the US market, with the aim to increase value per new molecular entity from our deep pipeline”, said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “We will continue to deliver improved financials with +4% sales CAGR through 2027 and a Core Op Inc margin ~40%+ in the mid – long term. Our disciplined capital allocation will balance continued investment in the business and returning capital to our shareholders”.

Novartis is implementing this strategy with a clear focus on five therapeutic areas for investment - cardiovascular, immunology, neuroscience, solid tumors and hematology. Novartis has multiple significant in-market and pipeline assets in each of these areas, which represent significant disease burden and have the largest growth potential in the USD 1 Tn innovatives medicines market. Eight current in-market brands, Cosentyx, Entresto, Zolgensma, Kisqali, Kesimpta, Leqvio, Pluvicto and Scemblix, each hold multi-billion dollar peak sales potential.

Focus on US and other priority geographies including China, Germany, Japan

These eight brands are underpinning growth across all key geographies, supporting Novartis aspiration to improve competitive positioning and organically build its US business to become a top-five player in the US by 2027. A ‘US-first’ mindset, increasing share of US patients in clinical trials and building capability and talent, among other actions, will enable Novartis to acheive this objective. Novartis also aims to be a top-three player in China, a key growth market for the next decade, while maintaining leading positions in Germany and Japan.

Establishing Leadership across Key Technology Platforms

The Novartis portfolio of medicines is shifting toward biologics and technology platforms - recognizing their increasing power in tackling disease. In addition to two established platforms in chemistry and biotherapeutics, three newer platforms – gene & cell therapy, radioligand therapy, and ‘xRNA’ - are being prioritized for continued investment into new R&D capabilities and manufacturing scale. With over 50 projects in exploratory to early clinical development, Novartis is well positioned to lead the industry in developing these platforms and expand our business presence.

Rich Development Pipeline shifting to High-Value NMEs

Management outlined its approach to prioritization of Novartis rich pipeline. Increasing commercial focus in five core therapy areas, as well as renewed attention to high-value assets that have the potential to drive growth in the US, were highlighted. The company showcased a number of catalysts set to drive newsflow in the mid & near-term:

Kisqali (ribociclib);data from the NATALEE trial in adjuvant HER2-negative breast cancer in both high- and intermediate-risk patients with breast cancer in 2023.

Iptacopan; first phase 3 trial results in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria later this year with more data readouts in other indications in 2023.

Pluvicto; phase 3 data from the PSMAfore trial in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer late 2022/early 2023.

Remibrutinib; phase 3 data from two trials in chronic spontaneous urticaria in 2024 and from two phase 3 trials in relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2025.

Scemblix (asciminib);data from the CML-CP trial in first line CML in 2024.

The high value late stage development pipeline is also expected to deliver a large number data readouts in the 2024-25 timeframe. Focused on driving operational excellence, Novartis shared insights into selected early clinical programs where strengthening integration within R&D will help accelerate development and release operational efficiency.

Continuing to deliver improved financials

The growing business, with sales expected to improve +4% CAGR 2021-2027, coupled with announced strategic moves, will enable improving financial performance in the coming years. Core operating income margin is expected to increase to ~40+% in the mid – long term, including the absorption of corporate costs. This improved profitability is set to drive improved Free Cash Flow and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC).

Management outlined Novartis disciplined shareholder-focused approach to capital allocation, highlighting USD 53bn distributed to shareholders from 2017-2021. Substantial cash generation will continue to allow us to balance returning capital to shareholders with investing in the business.

Separation of Sandoz, via 100% spin-off, is in the best interests of shareholders

The Sandoz spin-off transaction is expected to be completed in H2 2023, supporting Novartis ambitions in becoming a fully focused medicines company. Sandoz is planned to be incorporated in Switzerland and to be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, with an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program in the US, and expected to become the publicly traded #1 European generics company1 and a global leader in biosimilars based in Switzerland.

Strengthening foundations - ESG

Aiming to continue strengthening the foundations of its business including improving broad access to innovation for patients, Novartis outlined key elements of its approach to ESG. These include ensuring access strategies are incorporated in all new product launches and increasing the diversity of patients in clinical trials, as well as ensuring innovative medicines reach more patients in low and middle income countries faster; neglected tropical diseases remain a focus for innovation. Novartis will continue to prioritize its leading position in third-party ESG ratings and confirmed that its innovative sustainability linked bond targets are on track.