Novartis AG, incorporated on February 29, 1996, is a Switzerland-based holding that, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of healthcare products. The Company’s healthcare solutions portfolio includes medicines, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, generic pharmaceuticals and consumer health products. Its businesses are divided on a worldwide basis into the four operating divisions: Pharmaceuticals, which comprises brand-name patented pharmaceuticals; Vaccines and Diagnostics, which focuses on human vaccines and blood-testing diagnostics.