Novartis Begins Construction on Changshu Plant

CHANGSHU, CHINA -
Novartis AG began construction in February 2006 on a new research, development, and production plant in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China. Part of the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company's global production and supply chain, the $83-million project is expected to be fully operation by year-end 2007. Novartis is also planning to expand its Beijing Novartis Pharma plant and possibly construct an additional research facility in China as part of the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research.