GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. and ETHICON Products have announced an exclusive distribution agreement that gives Novartis US marketing rights to the ETHICON Products premium line of sutures and future access to advanced wound care products for the veterinary market. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Effective January 1, 2004, the agreement allows Novartis to build on its commitment to the highest quality veterinary medical care. The ETHICON Products brands are among the most recognized and well-respected brands of sutures and suture technology in hospitals and are also currently well established in veterinary clinics throughout the US.
According to George Gunn, president of Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., veterinary surgeons are committed to high-quality standards in surgical care for pets, and the ETHICON Products line meets their professional needs. The premium suture line is also an excellent complement to Novartis’ orthopedic surgery operative pain control offering.
“Our companion animal business is focused on saving and improving the lives of pets while helping advance the veterinary profession, and the addition of the ETHICON Products line of veterinary sutures contributes to our ability to do that better,” Gunn says. “Veterinary surgeons recognize the high quality of the ETHICON Products sutures in their daily efforts to provide the best standard of care in surgical procedures.”
The synthetic, absorbable sutures of ETHICON Products provide minimal tissue trauma and predictable wound support during the healing phases. Notable brand names include PDS II (polydioxanone), coated VICRYL (polyglactin 910), and MONOCRYL (poligelcaprone 25) sutures.
Marketers of a product line already used in orthopedic surgery pain control for pets, Novartis is now well positioned to help veterinarians build the quality of their surgical care and enhance the lives of pets at the same time. This complementary product fit was one of the reasons Novartis was awarded the distribution rights.
Veterinarians will continue to be able to place orders for the ETHICON Products line through their usual distributors, as of January 1.
About Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.
Novartis Animal Health US, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, researches, develops and commercializes leading animal treatments that meet the needs of pet owners, farmers and veterinarians. For further information please consult http://www.petwellness.com/.
Novartis AG is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2002, the Group’s businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.4 billion (USD 20.9 billion) and a net income of CHF 7.3 billion (USD 4.7 billion). The Group invested approximately CHF 4.3 billion (USD 2.8 billion) in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 77 200 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com/.
This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” relating to the Group’s business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “exclusive,” “well positioned,” or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding strategies, plans and expectations. Such statements reflect the current plans or views of the Group with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Management’s expectations could be affected by, among other things, competition in general, and other risks referred to in Novartis AG’s Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
CONTACT: Sheldon Jones Novartis Corporation (212) 830-2457
Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.
CONTACT: Sheldon Jones of Novartis Corporation, +1-212-830-2457
