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Novartis declares cash offer for NeuTec Pharma wholly unconditional


WEBWIRE

Novartis has acquired or received valid acceptances from shareholders for 75.4% of NeuTec’s existing issued share capital

Basel, July 14, 2006 - Novartis announced today that it has acquired or received valid acceptances for 75.4% of the outstanding shares in NeuTec Pharma plc (LSE: NTP) and has declared its offer for the UK biopharmaceutical company unconditional in all respects. This will allow for the delisting of NeuTec’s shares and completing the acquisition.

The NeuTec Board of Directors unanimously recommended a cash offer announced on June 7 for Novartis to acquire the company for GBP 10.50 per share, which values NeuTec at approximately GBP 305 million (USD 569 million).

Please refer to the Rule 2.5 Announcement and the Offer Document, which are available at www.novartis.com.

NeuTec will expand the access of Novartis to the dynamic hospital segment of the worldwide anti-infectives market through Mycograb� for the treatment of fungal infections and Aurograb� for serious bacterial infections.

About NeuTec (www.neutecpharma.com)
NeuTec Pharma plc is a UK biopharmaceutical company formed in 1997 by Professor James Burnie and Professor Ruth Matthews. It specializes in the development of genetically recombinant antibodies, or “grabs,” for the treatment of life-threatening infections. The development of NeuTec’s products is based on identifying naturally occurring potentially protective antibodies from patients who have recovered from bacterial or fungal infections and uses these to generate recombinant antibodies to treat these infections. As a result, NeuTec believes these compounds to be intrinsically safer than antibiotics. NeuTec was listed in February 2002 on the AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s global market for smaller, growing companies.

About Novartis
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat 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. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. 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. In 2005, the Group’s businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 96,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Disclaimer
This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words such as “will” and “believes”, or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential regulatory approval of products under development, or potential future revenues from such products, or other express or implied discussions of strategies, plans and expectations. Such statements reflect the current plans, expectations, objectives, intentions or views of management with respect to future events, are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. There can be no guarantee that any of the potential products described in this press release will be approved for sale in any market, or that any of them will achieve any particular level of sales. In particular, management’s expectations regarding these products and the success of the transaction described above could be affected by, among other things, unexpected research results; additional analysis of clinical data; new clinical data; unexpected clinical trial results; unexpected regulatory actions or delays, or government regulation generally; the company’s ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry, and general public pricing pressures; the risk that the business being acquired will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; as well as factors discussed in the Company’s Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those set forth or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and no undertaking has been made to update or revise them if there are changes in expectations or if any events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward looking statement is based.

The information in the press releases on these pages was factually accurate on the date of publication. These press releases remain on Novartis’ website for historical purposes only. Novartis assumes no duty to update the information to reflect subsequent developments. Readers should not rely upon the information in these pages as current or accurate after their publication dates.



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