Core Insights - Novartis is acquiring Avidity Biosciences for approximately $12 billion, marking its largest deal in a decade, to enhance its drug pipeline and offset competition from generics [2] - The company reported a 7% increase in third-quarter net sales to $13.9 billion, with operating income rising 27% to $5.46 billion, slightly exceeding analyst expectations [3] - Novartis has maintained its sales growth guidance at a "high single digit" percentage and adjusted operating income growth at a "low teens" percentage despite market pressures [5] Financial Performance - The third-quarter net sales reached $13.9 billion, reflecting a 7% increase [3] - Operating income for the quarter increased by 27% to $5.46 billion, surpassing analyst expectations [3] - Key drugs such as Kisqali, Pluvicto, Scemblix, and Kesimpta contributed to high double-digit revenue growth [4] Strategic Moves - Novartis has been actively acquiring companies, with over 35 acquisitions in the past year to strengthen its market position [2] - The acquisition of Avidity is expected to provide access to promising experimental drugs, with two of Avidity's leading drugs projected to generate billions in sales by 2030 [1] - The company is focused on continuous acquisition to find the next "great asset" in the pharmaceutical sector [2] Market Challenges - Novartis faces challenges from generics competition, which has negatively impacted revenue by 7 percentage points due to loss of exclusivity for key drugs [6] - Revenue deductions in the U.S. due to pricing adjustments contributed an additional negative impact of 2 percentage points [6] - The company is closely monitoring global tariff updates and U.S. drug pricing policies that could affect its operations [6][7] Future Outlook - Analysts expect Novartis to potentially enter similar "most favoured nation" agreements as Pfizer and AstraZeneca, which could impact earnings from 2026 onwards [8] - Novartis has committed to eliminating price differentials between U.S. and other industrialized nations for its drugs [8] - The company is not expected to be affected by a 100% tariff on branded pharmaceuticals due to its significant investment in U.S. infrastructure [9]