B'nai B'rith Award to Novartis CEO

[Guest guest]

Commitment to Patients Earns Novartis' Dr. Vasella B'nai B'rith

International's Highest Award

Washington, December 15, 2008)-B'nai B'rith International (BBI) has chosen

Dr. Vasella, chairman and chief executive officer of Novartis AG, to

receive the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award at a gala at the

Grand Hyatt New York on May 7, 2009.

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B'nai B'rith International is honoring Vasella and Novartis for their strong

and continued commitment to access- to-medicine programs for patients around

the world. As Novartis CEO and chairman, Vasella is committed to providing

access-to-medicines for people in need, regardless of the company's

financial performance. Novartis' access-to-medicine programs reached 65.7

million patients around the world in 2007 alone, a contribution totaling

close to $1 billion.

Since its founding in 1843, BBI has been committed to these kinds of ideals

and values and seeks out people and companies with like-minded goals. " B'nai

B'rith is proud to share its core values with a company like Novartis, and

its leader, Dr. Vasella, " said BBI President Moishe . " Vasella is an

innovator who understands that a business model that embraces corporate

citizenship has far reaching positive consequences. "

As one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Novartis knows its

most important contribution to patients is researching, developing, and

providing medicines to treat and prevent disease, ease suffering, and

improve quality of life. Novartis' strategy is to make a contribution to

those in need that is in line with its core expertise of researching and

developing medicines which address unmet medical need.

Novartis has developed several programs aimed at enhancing affordability and

access to treatment, including the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases,

where Novartis researches novel treatments and prevention methods for

neglected tropical diseases such as Dengue fever, and will make these

available, without profit, to poor endemic countries. Other

access-to-medicine programs include providing free leprosy medications until

the disease is eradicated worldwide, providing global access to its

breakthrough cancer therapy Glivec free to patients in need, as well as

distributing the anti-malarial drug Coartem below cost to poor patients.

Since 2001, Novartis has provided more than 160 million Coartem treatments,

without profit, to those most in need in partnership with the World Health

Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund, and has helped to

save an estimated 450,000 lives.

Novartis' efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility have not gone

unnoticed. In 2008, Novartis was named for the second consecutive year to

the Ethishere " World's Most Ethical Companies " list, was ranked No. 2 among

pharmaceutical companies on Fortune's " World's Most Admired Companies " list,

and is in the top 5 pharmaceutical companies for access-to-medicines.

Novartis was also named Pharmaceutical Company of the Year by MedAd News,

and was named one of the Top 50 companies for diversity by DiversityInc

magazine.

" Dr. Vasella has shepherded Novartis to the pinnacle of corporate

responsibility, " said BBI Executive Vice President S. schin.

" He's demonstrated that a successful corporation is also a good corporate

citizen. In word and deed, Dr. Vasella is an exemplary leader. "

For more than four decades, B'nai B'rith, one of the world's oldest and

largest human rights, community action, and humanitarian organizations, has

presented the Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of the

accomplishments of key community and corporate leaders around the world.

These exceptional individuals and companies are honored for their community

service, dedicated leadership, and commitment to improving the lives of the

individuals they serve.

To learn more about Novartis corporate citizenship efforts, go to:

http://www.corporatecitizenship.novartis.com/

Celebrating B'nai B'rith International's 165 years

B'nai B'rith International, the global voice of the Jewish community, is the

most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights, and advocacy

organization. BBI works to aid the victims of disaster; improves the lives

of senior citizens through housing and advocacy; promotes health initiatives

and education; provides youth leadership training; serves community members

in need; and fights intolerance around the world. B'nai B'rith.since 1843.

Visit www.bnaibrith.org.

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