Editing Novartis (section)

====2000–2010====
In 2000, Novartis and [[AstraZeneca]] combined their [[agrobusiness]] divisions to create a new company, [[Syngenta]].<ref>Andrew Ross Sorkin for ''The New York Times''. 3 December 1999 [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/03/business/international-business-astrazeneca-and-novartis-to-shed-agricultural-units.html AstraZeneca and Novartis To Shed Agricultural Units] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911170404/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/03/business/international-business-astrazeneca-and-novartis-to-shed-agricultural-units.html |date=11 September 2020 }} Accessed 27 May 2013</ref><ref>Staff, PRNewsWire. 13 November 2000. [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Syngenta+Begins+Trading+on+the+New+York+Stock+Exchange.-a066871612 Syngenta Begins Trading on the New York Stock Exchange] Accessed 27 May 2013 {{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2003, Novartis organized all its generics businesses into one division, and merged some of its subsidiaries into one company, reusing the predecessor brand name of Sandoz.<ref>Press Release, Novartis. 21 January 2003 [http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2003/01/21/293429/35737/en/Novartis-to-Unite-Its-Generics-Businesses-Under-One-Single-Global-Brand-Sandoz.html Novartis to Unite Its Generics Businesses Under One Single Global Brand: Sandoz] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017170402/http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2003/01/21/293429/35737/en/Novartis-to-Unite-Its-Generics-Businesses-Under-One-Single-Global-Brand-Sandoz.html |date=17 October 2013 }}</ref>

In 2005, Novartis expanded its subsidiary Sandoz significantly through the US$8.29&nbsp;billion acquisition of Hexal, one of Germany's leading [[generic drug]] companies, and Eon Labs, a fast-growing United States generic pharmaceutical company.<ref>Emily Church for MarketWatch 21 February 2005 [http://www.marketwatch.com/story/novartis-buys-hexal-eon-labs-generics-for-829-bln Novartis in $8.29 billion generics deals: to buy Hexal and its US division Eon Labs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020161518/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/novartis-buys-hexal-eon-labs-generics-for-829-bln |date=20 October 2013 }}</ref>

In 2006, Novartis acquired the California-based [[Chiron Corporation]]. Chiron had been divided into three units: Chiron Vaccines, Chiron Blood Testing, and Chiron BioPharmaceuticals. The biopharmaceutical unit was integrated into Novartis Pharmaceuticals, while the vaccines and blood testing units were made into a new Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics division.<ref>Novartis press release. 19 April 2006 [http://cws.huginonline.com/N/134323/PR/200604/1045686_5_2.html Novartis acquisition of Chiron approved by Chiron shareholders] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020204542/http://cws.huginonline.com/N/134323/PR/200604/1045686_5_2.html |date=20 October 2013 }}</ref> Also in 2006, Sandoz became the first company to have a [[biosimilar]] drug approved in Europe with its recombinant [[human growth hormone]] drug.<ref>Staff, Biosimilars News. 15 August 2011 [http://www.biosimilarnews.com/biosimilars-approved-in-europe Biosimilars approved in Europe] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020153643/http://www.biosimilarnews.com/biosimilars-approved-in-europe |date=20 October 2013 }}</ref>

In 2007, Novartis sold the [[Gerber Products Company]] to [[Nestlé]] as part of its continuing effort to shed old Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy businesses and focus on healthcare.<ref>Andrew Martin and Andrew Ross Sorkin for ''The New York Times''. 13 April 2007 [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/business/worldbusiness/13gerber-web.html?_r=0 Nestlé Agrees to Buy Gerber From Novartis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123221918/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/business/worldbusiness/13gerber-web.html?_r=0 |date=23 November 2020 }}</ref>

In 2009, Novartis reached an agreement to acquire an 85 percent stake in the Chinese vaccines company Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. as part of a strategic initiative to build a vaccines industry leader in this country and expand the group's limited presence in this fast-growing market segment. This proposed acquisition will require government and regulatory approvals in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merck Provides Update on Status of Supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA) for GARDASIL® |url=https://www.worldpharmanews.com/content/view/1011/1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113131854/http://www.worldpharmanews.com/content/view/1011/1/ |archive-date=13 November 2009 |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=www.worldpharmanews.com}}</ref>

In 2010, Novartis offered to pay US$39.3&nbsp;billion to fully acquire [[Alcon]], the world's largest eye-care company, including a majority stake held by Nestlé. Novartis had bought 25 percent of Alcon in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomasson |first=Emma |date=4 January 2010 |title=Novartis seeks to buy rest of Alcon for $39 billion |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alcon-idUSTRE6030RK20100104 |url-status=live |access-date=2010-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020151234/https://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/04/us-alcon-idUSTRE6030RK20100104 |archive-date=2013-10-20}}</ref> Novartis created a new division and called it Alcon, under which it placed its CIBA VISION subsidiary and Novartis Ophthalmics, which became the second-largest division of Novartis.<ref>Novartis Press Release. 8 April 2011 [http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/feature-stories/2011/04/stronger-together-1.shtml Stronger together: Novartis and Alcon creating the global leader in eye care] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020094845/http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/feature-stories/2011/04/stronger-together-1.shtml |date=20 October 2013 }}</ref> The total cost for Alcon amounted to $60&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Novartis' CEO resist going for a megamerger with cash from asset sales? - FiercePharma |url=http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/can-novartis-ceo-resist-going-for-a-megamerger-cash-from-asset-sales |access-date=6 February 2018 |website=www.fiercepharma.com |date=30 May 2017 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030110205/https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/can-novartis-ceo-resist-going-for-a-megamerger-cash-from-asset-sales |url-status=live }}</ref>