SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 29: A worker holds containers of test tablets made in the Novartis AG Pharma Manufacturing facility in Singapore, on Monday, Oct. 29, 2007. Novartis, Europe's second-biggest drugmaker, said it will spend $700 million on a new biotechnology manufacturing plant in Singapore. (Photo by Munshi Ahmed/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Harry Kirsch, chief financial officer of Novartis AG, speaks during a news conference to announce the company's results in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. Novartis proposed buying back $5 billion of shares and said it's considering separating its embattled eye-care division after projecting that sales this year at Europe's second-biggest drugmaker will likely be largely unchanged from 2016. Photographer: Michele Limina/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Joseph Jimenez, chief executive officer of Novartis AG, reacts during a news conference to announce the company's results in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. Novartis proposed buying back $5 billion of shares and said it's considering separating its embattled eye-care division after projecting that sales this year at Europe's second-biggest drugmaker will likely be largely unchanged from 2016. Photographer: Michele Limina/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Harry Kirsch, chief financial officer of Novartis AG, adjusts his spectacles during a news conference to announce the company's results in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. Novartis AG, Europe's biggest drugmaker by sales, said fourth-quarter profit fell as currencies in emerging markets weakened against the dollar. Photographer: Gianluca Colla/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Vasant Narasimhan, chief medical officer of Novartis AG, looks on during a news conference to announce the company's results in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. Novartis proposed buying back $5 billion of shares and said it's considering separating its embattled eye-care division after projecting that sales this year at Europe's second-biggest drugmaker will likely be largely unchanged from 2016. Photographer: Michele Limina/Bloomberg via Getty Images
