Press Release: Novartis successfully completes acquisition of AveXis, Inc.

Novartis International AG / Novartis successfully completes acquisition

of AveXis, Inc.. Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate

Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this

announcement.

The digital press release with multimedia content can be accessed here:

https://novartis.gcs-web.com/Novartis-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-AveXis-Inc

Basel, May 15, 2018 - Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) ("Novartis") today

announced that it has completed the acquisition of AveXis, Inc.

("AveXis") through the consummation of a merger of its indirect

wholly-owned subsidiary, Novartis AM Merger Corporation ("Merger Sub"),

with and into AveXis without a vote of the AveXis stockholders in

accordance with Section 251(h) of the Delaware General Corporation Law

(the "DGCL"). In the merger, each share of AveXis common stock

outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger (other

than shares owned by Novartis, Merger Sub, AveXis or any subsidiary of

Novartis or AveXis or by any AveXis stockholders who properly perfected

their appraisal rights under the DGCL) has been converted into the right

to receive USD 218.00 per share, net to the seller in cash, without

interest and subject to any tax withholding. As a result of the merger,

AveXis became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Novartis and

AveXis' shares have ceased to be traded on the NASDAQ Global Select

Market.

Vas Narasimhan M.D., CEO of Novartis, said: "We are delighted to add

AveXis' leading gene therapy technology to our company and to welcome

our AveXis colleagues to Novartis. Together, we now have the potential

to bring to children the first one-time gene-based treatment for the

devastating disease, spinal muscular atrophy. The deal also supports our

strategy to deliver transformative innovation in areas of high unmet

medical need, and advances our growing pipeline of gene therapies with

the potential to transform the care of diseases, from SMA and cancer to

blindness."

Paul Hudson, CEO, Novartis Pharmaceuticals said: "Novartis and Avexis

bring truly complementary capabilities behind a shared purpose -

transforming the care of patients with life-threatening neurological

genetic diseases. AveXis has built a team with exceptional depth of

expertise and experience, a clinically proven gene delivery platform,

manufacturing and R&D capabilities, while Novartis has been for 70 years

a leader in Neuroscience, building on a global footprint and its

extensive experience in bringing transformational medicines to the

clinic stage."

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements that can

generally be identified by words such as "will," or similar expressions.

You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such

forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and

expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant

known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these

risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions

prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth

in the forward-looking statements. Novartis is providing the information

in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any

obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new

information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the

evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel,

Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these

needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar

pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in

each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1

billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD

9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000

full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in

approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information,

please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at

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For Novartis multimedia content, please visit

www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact

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# # #

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com

Paul Barrett Antonio Ligi

Novartis Global External Communications Novartis Global External Communications

+41 61 324 5224 (direct) +41 61 324 1374 (office)

+41 79 797 8137 (mobile) +41 79 723 3681 (mobile)

paul.barrett@novartis.com antonio.ligi@novartis.com

Eric Althoff

Novartis Global External Communications

+41 61 324 7999 (office)

+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)

eric.althoff@novartis.com

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com

Central North America

Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448

Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Cory Twining +1 212 830 2417

Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425

Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188

Media release (PDF): http://hugin.info/134323/R/2192950/849205.pdf

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf

of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely

responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information

contained therein.

Source: Novartis International AG via Globenewswire

--- End of Message ---

Novartis International AG

P.O. Box Basel Switzerland

WKN: 904278;ISIN: CH0012005267;

http://www.novartis.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 15, 2018 16:00 ET (20:00 GMT)