Novartis, Mundipharma ink partnership to enhance access in Southeast Asia to two established pain medicine brands

Novartis and Mundipharma,have signed an agreement for the marketing,sales and distribution of well-known pain medicine brands Voltaren®(diclofenac sodium) and Cataflam® (diclofenac potassium) in Malaysia,Thailand,and the Philippines.

Novartis will retain all international development responsibility,as well as clinical development activities. The company will also continue to manufacture and supply Voltaren®and Cataflam®for commercial use.

SINGAPORE,Sept. 10,2018 -- International healthcare organizations,Novartis and Mundipharma,sales and distribution of well-known pain medicine brands Voltaren®(diclofenac sodium) and Cataflam®(diclofenac potassium) in Malaysia,and the Philippines.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain,swelling (inflammation),and joint stiffness caused by arthritis. It is available as a tablet,injectable and liquid capsule.

Mundipharma Southeast Asia GM,Suresh Pragasam,said: "These medicines strategically complement our existing portfolio very well. We are now able to help provide relief for people suffering across the full pain spectrum-- from mild to moderate to severe."

"We are delighted to have partnered with Novartis in Southeast Asia on these agreements. The deal enables us to make these world-class medicines more accessible to people in three more emerging markets,where there is not the same accessibility to medicine as there is in more mature economies. This is an example of the core Mundipharma mission in action."

"Our partnership with Mundipharma is aligned with our mission to improve patients' quality of life and bend the curve of patient outcomes," said Alexis Serlin,Head of Asia Cluster,Novartis AG. "The Novartis commitment to enhance healthcare providers and institutions' access to effective medicines will be complemented by Mundipharma's core strengths in anesthesia and surgicals in Southeast Asia."

Novartis will retain all international development responsibility,as well as clinical development activities. The company will also continue to manufacture and supply Voltaren®and Cataflam® for commercial use.

About Mundipharma

Mundipharma is a network of independent associated companies which are privately owned entities covering pharmaceutical markets in Asia-Pacific,Latin America,the Middle East and Africa. The headquarters for these territories is in Singapore. Mundipharma is a prime example of an organization that consistently delivers high-quality medicines while standing by the values it represents. Its mission is to alleviate the suffering of patients and to substantially improve their quality of life. Mundipharma is dedicated to bringing to patients the benefit of novel treatment options in fields such as pain,oncology,oncology supportive care,ophthalmology,respiratory disease and consumer healthcare.

For more information,please visit: www.mundipharma.com.sg

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel,Switzerland,Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017,the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion,while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 125,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world.

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

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