Novartis wins the 2007 Belleau-Nickerson Award for the cancer drug (Pr)Gleevec*

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Novartis wins the 2007 Belleau-Nickerson Award for the cancer drug

(Pr)Gleevec*

DORVAL, QC, Nov. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.

has been honoured with the 2007 Belleau-Nickerson Award for Gleevec(*),

presented at the Prix Galien gala ceremony in Montreal late last week. This

award recognizes the therapeutic, social and economic contribution of a drug

product marketed in the past 10 years.

Approved for use in Canada in 2001, Gleevec(*) is the first cancer treatment

to be developed with rational drug design, based on a better understanding

of how cancer cells work. Gleevec(*) is currently indicated for the

treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), including pediatric patients in

1st Line CML. Gleevec(*) is also approved to treat gastro-intestinal stromal

tumours (GIST), as well as Philadelphia-positive Acute Lymphoblastic

Leukemia (Ph+ALL). The drug also addresses the genetic malfunction that is

present in these conditions. Taken as a simple daily pill, it has brought

dramatic remissions with mild to moderate side effects, where 90% of CML

patients are still alive at five years. Unlike traditional agents, which

attack not only cancerous cells, but healthy ones as well, Gleevec(*) works

by selectively targeting disease-specific cellular abnormalities. " We are

proud of this award and the enormous contributions Gleevec has made in the

fight against cancer, " says Meek, President. " Chronic myeloid

leukemia, Philadelphia-positive Acute Leukemia and gastro-intestinal stromal

tumors had left patients with little chance of long-term survival and, in

many cases, they had resulted in early death. Now, with Gleevec, 90 per cent

of CML patients are still living

after five years, which is a significant improvement in the treatment of the

disease. " Gleevec is the only drug marketed in its class with long-term

data to show increasing rates of responses with a decreasing rate of

disease progression in 1st Line CML. In

fact, only 1% of patients on Gleevec have progressed to advanced disease

after 5 years.

In addition, Gleevec offers patients an excellent tolerability profile. In

1st Line CML, side effects actually decrease with continued Gleevec therapy,

and cause discontinuation in only 4.2% of patients over 5 years.

About Prix Galien and the Belleau-Nickerson award

Prix Galien is an annual award that recognizes and promotes pharmaceutical

research and innovation. It was established in 1970 by French pharmacist

Roland Mehl and has since expanded to numerous countries around the world,

specifically Canada in 1994. The Prix Galien's Belleau-Nickerson Award is

strictly Canadian and is named after two eminent researchers who left their

mark on pioneering research in Canada - Dr. Bernard Belleau and Dr. Mark

Nickerson.

The Belleau-Nickerson Award is selected by a jury of the deans of pharmacy

faculties in Canada.

The award recognizes the therapeutic, social and economic contribution of a

drug product marketed in the past 10 years. In 2003, Novartis

Pharmaceuticals

Canada Inc. won the Prix Galien's Most Innovative Product award in Canada

for Gleevec(*).

About Novartis Canada

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is

committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products

to improve the well-being of all Canadians. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada

Inc. conducts hundreds of clinical trials across the country seeking new

treatments for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, ophthalmology and

organ transplantation. In 2006, the Company invested over $69 million in

research and development. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs more

than 850 people in Canada and its headquarters are located in Dorval,

Quebec.

In addition to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., the Novartis Group in

Canada consists of Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc., Novartis Consumer

Health Canada Inc., (including Novartis Nutrition Corporation) CIBA VISION

Canada Inc. and Sandoz Canada Inc. For further information about Novartis

Canada, please consult http://www.novartis.ca.

About Novartis

Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to

protect health, cure disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to

discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat

patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. We are

strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic

growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and

low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands.

Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in these areas. In

2006, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 37.0 billion and net

income of USD 7.2 billion.

Approximately USD 5.4 billion was invested in R & D. Headquartered in Basel,

Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 101,000

associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more

information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

(*)Gleevec is a registered trademark

For further information: s, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.,

(514) 633-7872 (direct), jason.jacobs@...

Zavie (age 69)

67 Shoreham Avenue

Ottawa, Canada, K2G 3X3

dxd AUG/99

INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF

No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01

Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg)

CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club

2.8 log reduction Sep/05

3.0 log reduction Jan/06

2.9 log reduction Feb/07

3.2 log reduction Jun/07

3.6 log reduction Sep/07

e-mail: zmiller@...

Tel: 613-726-1117

Fax: 309-296-0807

Cell: 613-202-0204

ID: zaviem