Sandoz Canada launches two new generic therapies for hypertension

• Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide are generic alternatives to Coversyl and Coversyl Plus.
• They are part of the angiotensin family converting enzyme, typically used in the treatment of hypertension.
• Hypertension may cause death, disability and reduced lifespan, and these medicines will help facilitate access to high-quality treatment.

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, March 7, 2018 /CNW/- Sandoz Canada announced today that it has launched two new generic alternatives to therapies that have been available under the brand names Coversyl and Coversyl Plus for the treatment of hypertension.

"We are very pleased to be bringing cost-effective generic alternatives to these important medicines to Canadians across the country," said Michel Robidoux, President and General Manager of Sandoz Canada. "Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide will help to make high-quality treatment more accessible to Canadians and could save the health care system millions of dollars every year through prescription of high-quality, cost-effective generics."

Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat adults with mild to moderate essential hypertension and congestive heart failure. Concentrations include 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg tablets.

Sandoz Canada is also launching Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide. The feature of the combo is that it includes diuretics, which help control blood pressure by getting rid of excess salt and water. Concentrations include 2 mg / 0.625 mg, 4 mg / 1.25 mg and 8 mg / 2.5 mg tablets.

According to Hypertension Canada, 7.5 million people in Canada live with hypertension, which is among the top risk factors for death, disability and reduced lifespan. Over 90% of Canadians are estimated to develop hypertension if they live an average life span. If untreated, hypertension poses increased risk of heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure or stroke1.

^® Registered trademark owned or used under license by their respective registrants.

1) UpToDate, Patient education: High blood pressure treatment in adults (Beyond the Basics), August 2017

Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "more accessible," or similar terms, or regarding potential future revenues from Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management 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. There can be no guarantee that Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide will be submitted or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide will receive regulatory approval or be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine and Sandoz^® Perindopril Erbumine/Indapamide could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Sandoz Canada
Sandoz Canada is part of Sandoz International GmbH, a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars and a subsidiary of Swiss multinational Novartis AG. A leader in its field, Sandoz Canada develops, markets and distributes a broad line of generic, biosimilar, consumer and specialty products.

About Sandoz International GmbH
Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. As a division of the 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 approximately 1000 molecules, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2017 sales of USD 10.1 billion. In 2017, our products reached well over 500 million patients. Sandoz is headquartered in Holzkirchen, in Germany's Greater Munich area.

For interview opportunities, please contact Paule Pelletier (see contact information below).

For further information:

Paule Pelletier Sandoz Canada Inc. +1 450 641 4903 ext. 2109 [email protected]

Chris Lewis Sandoz Global Communications +49 8924 476 1906 [email protected]