##  [FAQ](https://www.novartis.com/ca-en/news/faq "FAQ") 

  1\. When was Novartis founded?



  

Novartis was founded in December 1996 by the merger of two successful international Swiss-owned companies with complementary product lines – Ciba-Geigy Ltd. and Sandoz Ltd.

Novartis is one of the world's leading healthcare companies. We are committed to improving the well-being of people by creating products in the areas of pharmaceuticals and generics.



 

 

 



 



 2\. What does the name Novartis mean?



  

Novartis comes from the Latin term “novae artes”, which means "new arts" or "new skills". In essence, Novartis means utilizing scientific research, imagination, and new technologies to provide ever-greater benefits for humankind.



 

 

 



 



 3\. What does the Novartis Group invest annually in global R&D?



  

Our annual sales are approximately USD 41.5 billion and our investment in research and development last year was over USD 7.2 billion.



 

 

 



 



 5\. Is Novartis a global enterprise?



  

Yes. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Novartis Group operates in more than 140 countries around the world.



 

 

 



 



 6\. How many employees does the Novartis Group have worldwide?



  

The Novartis Group employs approximately 119,000 people worldwide.



 

 

 



 



 7\. Where can I find information on Novartis shares?



  

[Visit the Investor Information section of our global website](https://www.novartis.com/investors)



 

 

 



 



 8\. How long has Novartis been in Canada?



  

Our roots in Canada go back to the 1920s when both Ciba and Sandoz were established in Montreal, and to the 1940s, when J.R. Geigy opened in Toronto.



 

 

 



 



 9\. When did the Canadian merger take effect?



  

The Canadian merger took effect on January 1, 1997.



 

 

 



 



 10\. How many people are employed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. in Canada?



  

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 700.



 

 

 



 



 11\. Where is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.'s head office?



  

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. has its head office in Dorval, Quebec.



 

 

 



 



 12\. How can I get in touch with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.?



  

You can get contact information for all of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.'s affiliates by clicking the following link.

[Contact us](https://www.novartis.com/ca-en/contact-us "Contact Us")



 

 

 



 



 13\. What specialties does the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. research team encompass?



  

Each year, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. conducts clinical trials at hundreds of sites across the country, involving thousands of patients, researchers, and investigators. Notable among these studies are those seeking new treatments for

- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Schizophrenia
- Organ transplantation
- Allergies "bone diseases"
- Glaucoma
- Retinal diseases
- Different types of cancer



 

 

 



 



 14\. How can I apply for a grant or donation from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada?



  

[Visit the Grants & Donations section of our website](https://www.novartis.com/ca-en/patients-and-caregivers/grants-and-donations "Grants and Donations")



 

 

 



 



 15\. What are the income tax implications to Canadian shareholders due to the Alcon spin-off?



  

Please see documents for responses:

[Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off FAQ - English (PDF 0.1 MB)](/ca-en/sites/novartis_ca/files/Canada%20Income%20Tax%20Alcon%20Spin-off%20FAQ%20%28English%29.pdf "Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off FAQ (English).pdf")

[Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off FAQ- French (PDF 0.1 MB)](/ca-en/sites/novartis_ca/files/Canada%20Income%20Tax%20Alcon%20Spin-off%20FAQ%20%28French%29.pdf "Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off FAQ (French).pdf")

[Department of Finance Canada Comfort Letter (PDF 0.1 MB)](/ca-en/sites/novartis_ca/files/3.%20Department%20of%20Finance%20Canada%20Comfort%20Letter.pdf "Department of Finance Canada Comfort Letter.pdf")

[Download the Canada and Quebec Tax Election Example Letters (ZIP 0.1 MB)](/ca-en/sites/novartis_ca/files/Canada%20and%20Quebec%20Tax%20Election%20Example%20Letters.zip)