As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, our primary concern at Novartis remains the health and safety of our associates and patients globally, and it is important that we protect them.

With that in mind, effective Monday, March 16 2020, all Novartis associates within Europe, US and Canada are requested to work from home, with the exception of those working in laboratories, manufacturing sites and in the field. This measure is valid for three weeks until April 3, 2020. We will continuously assess the situation and adapt accordingly.

Some governments around the world are providing local guidance that is stricter than this Novartis global guidance. In those cases, the local guidance takes precedence.

Given the nature of some of the work undertaken at Novartis, it is not possible for everyone to work remotely. By reducing the numbers of associates visiting our sites, we can protect those employees who cannot work offsite.

In addition to the measures above, Novartis has updated its general international travel restriction. All international business travel requires approval from an executive level manager, in alignment with local authorities.

Novartis remains responsive to any developments regarding coronavirus and will take all necessary steps to protect its associates and patients as the situation evolves.

March 11, 2020
As Novartis continues to closely monitor the coronavirus situation, our primary concern is the health and safety of our associates and patients globally. We will continue to deliver our medicines to patients around the world and we do not anticipate supply chain disruption at this time.

Novartis has also put the following measures in place:
?We are implementing general international travel restrictions
?We have issued guidance on how our associates can protect themselves against coronavirus infection
?Where required, we have enacted mitigation plans to ensure ongoing drug supply to depots for our clinical studies, and we are working closely with the authorities on dispensing to trial participants

In response to an urgent call for research and development on coronavirus, issued by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)?, Novartis has expressed its willingness to contribute to this important effort by making available a set of compounds from our libraries that we consider suitable for in vitro antiviral testing. In addition, we are evaluating our existing products to see if any could be repurposed beyond their approved indications.

Our generics business Sandoz has committed to keeping prices stable for a basket of essential medicines that may help in the treatment of coronavirus cases, specifically antivirals to reduce the impact of coronavirus and antibiotics to combat pneumonia. Read the Sandoz media release?.

Novartis remains responsive to any developments regarding coronavirus and will take all necessary steps to protect its associates and patients as the situation evolves.

Updated on March 13, 2020