WRAL Tech Wire

 Novartis chairman may keep working with firm as a consultant

Daniel Vasella, who is stepping down as chairman of international drug firm Novartis and decided not to accept a $78 million non-compete agreement, is now talking with the company about a consulting role.

 No $78M golden parachute deal for Novartis chairman

Daniel Vasella, who is stepping down as chairman of international drug firm Novartis, cancels his $78 million agreement to not work for rival drug makers.

 Will Novartis vaccine plant in Holly Springs be on auction block?

As drug maker Novartis goes through a change at the top with Chairman Daniel Vasella stepping down, investors celebrate the move and call for the company to spin off some assets such as its vaccine business.

Novartis' plant in Holly Springs

 Novartis chairman stepping down; top Bayer exec to replace him

Daniel Vasella, the controversial Swiss executive who created drugmaker Novartis, unexpectedly said he will leave the board after 17 years, handing over to Bayer AG's top health-care executive.

 FDA approves Novartis vaccine made at Holly Springs plant

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives approval for a seasonal influenza vaccine produced at Novartis' new, huge production facility in Holly Springs.

New Novartis plant.

 Nebraska drug plant problems plaguing Novartis

Novartis, which operates a large production plant as well as a research and development operation in Holly Springs, N.C., says shutdown Nebraska plant is hurting its consumer sales.

 Novartis smoker's cough drug beats GSK's Advair in trial

Patients taking Novartis's QVA149 were able to expel more air from their lungs in one second than those receiving Glaxo's best-selling Advair after 26 weeks of treatment, according to a summary of data from a trial.

 Novartis experimental heart-failure drug shows promise

If successful, LCZ696 would be the first drug for patients with preserved ejection fraction, a condition in which the organ's ventricles still pump out more than 40 percent of the blood that comes in, but the atrium chamber fails to supply enough blood to the ventricle to meet the body's needs. The condition, which mainly affects women, accounts for about half of all heart failure patients.

 Novartis funds $20M cancer facility at U. of Pennsylvania

In exchange for the funding, the drug giant gains rights to the university's cancer technology that utilizes manipulated immune system stem cells.

 Novartis, GSK win big biodefense center contracts

Novartis along with Duke and NCSU will create a center for biodefense and to combat pandemic influenza in Holly Springs under a $60 million contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. GSK will work with Texas A&M on a $176 million deal.

 NCSU scientists to help spread new Novartis vaccine technology

NC biotech group hails formal dedication of the massive $1 billion Novartis plant in Holly Springs.

New Novartis plant.

 Novartis drug plant in Wilson on FDA warning list

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez to task with a warning letter that cites three of the company's manufacturing facilities for "significant violations" at the company's generics drug unit Sandoz.

 Life science awards go to PPD, Novartis, Steve Burrill

Scrips, an international life science media and related services firm based in the U.K., honors PPD with two awards, Novartis with three, and names Burrill its lifetime achievement winner.

 Novartis to cut 2,000 jobs, close 3 European plants

The drug giant, which operates a huge vaccine production and research facility in Holly Springs, says some jobs will be moved to the US as well as China and India.

New Novartis plant.

 Novartis: 'Contagion' is fiction but threat is real

The movie "Contagion" is fiction, but ask Novartis executive Russell Thirsk and he'll tell you the threats it depicts are quite real.

 Novartis fights patent rejection in Indian court

In a case that could affect India's role as drug provider to the developing world, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments Tuesday over whether the government had the right to deny a patent to Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG for its lifesaving cancer treatment Gleevec.

 Novartis earnings, sales top analysts' expectations

Net income falls 6 percent but overall sales increase 16 percent from a year ago.

 Novartis bids $470M for California-based cancer diagnostic firm

The Swiss drug maker, which is building a huge vaccine production plant in Holy Springs, is buying Genoptix.

 Novartis to add 100 jobs, facilities at Holly Springs plant

The global life sciences firm will receive up to $3.7 million in state tax incentives for the expansion.

New Novartis plant.

 Novartis ups offer by $1B, buys remaining 23% of eye care firm Alcon