Swiss pharma giant Novartis posts better-than-expected fourth-quarter sales

An office building designed by Frank O. Gehry at the Novartis AG headquarters campus in Basel, Switzerland.Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSwiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Friday reported better-than-expected sales in the fourth quarter, but falling short of its own guidance over the full-year stretch.Fourth-quarter net sales rose 16% on a constant currency basis to $13.2 billion, compared to the$12.795 billion estimated by analysts in an LSEG poll.Quarterly adjusted core operating income came in at $4.86 bi ...