WARSAW: The Basel-based firm said core net income fell to $3.2 billion, from $3.33 billion a year ago, while sales fell seven percent to $11.9 billion from continuing operations.
Novartis, which formed a joint venture with Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline for consumer health products and sold an animal health division to Eli Lilly, said net profits rose to $13 billion if those transactions were included. The group said it maintained its single-digit growth target for 2015.