Novartis UK statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19) support

London, UK. As part of the Novartis commitment to build a healthier tomorrow in the UK, we are taking urgent action now and making sure we are best placed to support the NHS and patients in the future.

These activities are focused on three core areas:

• Prioritising patients by ensuring undisrupted supply of our medicines for those that need them and conducting investigational work on existing products as candidates for the potential treatment of COVID-19

• Working together with associates to prioritise their wellbeing and safety, as well as supporting their desire to contribute through volunteering

• Supporting communities by exploring digital health solutions that will help the NHS address medium to long-term challenges presented by COVID-19 and looking at how we can partner with the NHS to deliver wellbeing and resilience programmes

Prioritising patients and being at the forefront of discovery

The continued supply of medicines to patients who need them is our critical role. Novartis is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to meet the unprecedented demand.

We are continuing to evaluate existing products as candidates for the potential treatment of COVID-19, some of which are being rapidly progressed into clinical trials, and supporting the NHS in their investigations. We are also making available a set of compounds from libraries considered suitable for in-vitro antiviral testing.

Our colleagues at the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR) have provided support for testing in the form of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing kits.

Our continued clinical trial work are in addition to Novartis global activities, for which more information can be found here.

Working together with associates

We are helping our associates to adapt to isolation and social distancing policies with a wellbeing programme, remote working advice and training sessions. Support for associates will also continue as the lockdown is lifted.

Many associates expressed a strong desire to support their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we have developed an associate volunteering programme that enables associates to spend up to 12 paid days contributing their time and expertise to any voluntary group across the country.

Our commitment to the NHS and the broader community

We have re-launched our Health Hub Accelerator in partnership with Wayra UK to accelerate and scale digital health solutions that can support the NHS in addressing some of the medium to long term challenges created by COVID-19.

We recognise the need to partner with the NHS to support them in providing continuity of care during the crisis and beyond. As such, we are exploring how we can partner with the NHS to support them through wellbeing and resilience programmes. We have also set aside funds for requests to support COVID-19 related activities and continue to evaluate these requests as we receive them.

Additionally, our generics division, Sandoz, has committed to maintaining price stability of a basket of essential medicines that may potentially help to treat coronavirus patients.

To keep up to date with our ongoing efforts in this area, please visit the Novartis COVID-19 UK Information Centre here.

View our infographic here.

May 2020 | COR20-E050