The roots of Novartis stretch back more than 250 years. From our beginnings in Basel's dye and chemical industries to our work today as a global innovative medicines company, generations of people have helped redefine what's possible for society. The same spirit of curiosity and courage that fueled centuries of discovery continues today as we work to reimagine medicine and tackle some of healthcare's toughest challenges for patients.

To mark 30 years as Novartis, explore the people, breakthroughs, and defining moments that shaped our journey and continue to shape what's next.
Several people working at assembling the big letters forming "Novartis" that will be installed at the top of a building on the Novartis Basel campus

250 years of discovery. 30 years of Novartis.

As Novartis celebrates 30 years, we look back on more than 250 years of scientific discovery and the pursuit of new possibilities for patients.
Read more about the Novartis story

The pages in our story

Discover the moments, ideas, and ambitions that became part of the Novartis story, told by the people who experienced them firsthand and continue to inspire what's next.

Insa's story

Targeted therapy was really a completely new way of tackling cancer. No one had done it.

Insa Gathmann, Biostatistician

Julien’s story

We are now looking ahead with siRNA. We are excited about it, because we know this is the new generation of medicines.

Julien Bisaro, Chemist, Operations

Inside the Archives

We've opened the doors to our company's archives, revealing 250 years of artifacts and anecdotes that offer a glimpse of where we've been and what continues to drive us forward.

Three small corked bottles with red, yellow, and dark dyes, displayed in front of printed sheets.

Before medicine, there was color

Episode 1
NOVARTIS logo on a large gray building facade under a clear sky

The story behind the merger

Episode 2
Hands holding a pestel and a mortar

Episode 3

Coming soon!
Historic book labelled "Arbeiter Controlle"

Episode 4

Coming soon!

The journey that shaped us

We’re taking a closer look at the moments that shaped who we are and continue to shape where we're headed. It’s a journey that begins 250 years ago and leads to one of the world’s most innovative medicines companies.

Large laboratory room in Basel with multiple benches, glassware, and equipment arranged in organized rows.

From dyes to breakthrough therapies

On certain mornings, when the light falls softly across the Rhine and the industrial silhouettes near Muttenz emerge from the mist, it becomes clear why Basel evolved into one of the world’s leading centers of pharmaceutical innovation. Few places in Europe have intertwined chemistry, biology, medicine, and industry as closely as Basel.
NIBR Operator in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Novartis Story: 30 Years of Innovation

Explore the milestones, breakthroughs and partnerships that have defined our first three decades as Novartis and set the stage for the future of medicine.
Ancient cup

The Celtic Roots of the Novartis Campus

Our connection to Basel runs deeper than you might think. Uncover the history of the ancient Celtic settlement that thrived on the exact site of the modern-day Novartis Campus more than 2 000 years ago.
Sample book for dyes used by Geigy

Think Pink! The Rise of Basel's Chemicals

When pioneer Alexander Clavel relocated to the Klybeck quarter in the 19th century, he helped spark the rise of Basel's booming dye industry, laying the early foundations for modern healthcare.
Crane operators taking down a Ciba sign

The Anatomy of a Merger

On March 7, 1996, the merger of Ciba and Sandoz captured the world's attention. Discover the story behind the creation of Novartis—what was then the largest corporate merger in history.
Careers at Novartis
Commitment to patients and caregivers
Pipeline