Novartis Consumer Health Inc history

By 1895, the company had produced its first pharmaceutical substance: antipyrine, which was a fever-controlling agent.

It was introduced onto the market as Gynergen in 1921.

Seven years later, Geigy began to produce textile auxiliaries – this business was taken over by Ciba in 1928.

In 1938, Geigy decided to increase its focus on healthcare and established a pharmaceutical department.

Melleril (thioridazine HCl), a neuroleptic drug, was introduced in 1958 – this product marked a milestone in the history of psychotropic pharmaceuticals.

In 1981, the first transdermal delivery system, Scopoderm TTS (hyoscine hydrobromide) was introduced for travel sickness.

He was also on the Board of Directors and was named Chairman in 1999.

In 2003, Novartis acquired the worldwide adult medical nutrition business of Mead Johnson and Company, which is a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and also US biotech Idenix Pharmaceuticals, expanding its antiviral medicines unit.

In 2005, Sandoz became the world leader in generic pharmaceuticals after acquiring Germany’s Hexal AG and US-based Eon Labs.

The US Department of Health and Human Services granted Novartis with a contract for up to $220 million in 2006 to build a cell culture-based influenza vaccine plant in the US, recognising Novartis as a leader in influenza vaccine development.

In 2007, Novartis sold its non-core business divestments of the Gerber and Medical Nutrition Business Units to Nestle for $5.5 billion and $2.5 billion respectively.