Sandoz Canada launches PrSandoz(R) Duloxetine, a generic version of Cymbalta*, for the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms

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BOUCHERVILLE, QC, May 17, 2016 -- Sandoz Canada announced today that it has launched on the Canadian market PrSandoz® Duloxetine, a generic equivalent to Cymbalta*, a prescription medication used for the treatment of major depressive and general anxiety disorders.

PrSandoz® Duloxetine is now available on the Canadian market in two strengths, 30 mg or 60 mg.

"We are very pleased to provide a generic version of Cymbalta* for the Canadian market as part of our ongoing efforts to help people access high-quality medicine," said Michel Robidoux, President and General Manager of Sandoz Canada. "We also view our growing generics portfolio as an important contributor to improving our society's ability to support growing healthcare needs."

In addition to depression, duloxetine can be used to treat anxiety that lasts for at least six months, pain from diabetic nerve damage, fibromyalgia, and long-term muscle or bone pain.

Duloxetine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs).

* Cymbalta is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly & Company.
®: Registered trademark owned or used under license by Sandoz Canada.

Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "new", or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for PrSandoz® Duloxetine or regarding potential future revenues from PrSandoz® Duloxetine. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with PrSandoz® Duloxetine to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that PrSandoz® Duloxetine will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding PrSandoz® Duloxetine could be affected by, among other things, new clinical data or additional analysis of existing data, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; uncertainties regarding actual or potential legal proceedings, including, among others, intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling PrSandoz® Duloxetine, and the uncertain outcome of any such litigation; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing difficulties or delays; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US 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 anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Sandoz is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Sandoz
Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. As a division of the worldwide Novartis Group, our purpose is to discover new ways to improve and extend people's lives. We contribute to society's ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world access high-quality medicine. Our portfolio of over 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2015 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2015, our products reached more than 500 million patients and we aspire to reach one billion. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany's Greater Munich area.

CONTACT: For further information: 
         
         Sandoz Canada 
         Annick Lambert 
         +1 450 641 4903 ext. 2964 
         [email protected] 
         
         Sandoz Global Communications
         Chris Lewis 
         +49 8024 476 1906
         [email protected]