Novartis is committed to open dialogue and transparent exchange of information with patient organizations as detailed in our Commitment to Patients and Caregivers. Patient organizations are key partners in our decision-making throughout the medicines' lifecycle. We believe that incorporating the patient perspective in our decision-making can help to develop better medicines for patients.

Novartis engages with patient organizations in recognition of their unique expertise and perspectives. We fully respect their independence and integrity. Patient organizations are neither required nor encouraged to promote or endorse Novartis products and services. We do not initiate or drive the creation of new patient organizations and strive not to be the sole funder of any patient organization.

When engaging patient organization representatives, Novartis compensates their time and expenses according to local laws and regulations on a fair market value (FMV) basis, following an established process and methodology. We believe patient organization representatives should receive fair remuneration for the services or consultancy they provide based on their experience, expertise, and time. Committing to FMV is essential to build trust with the patient community and to strengthen our approach to patient engagement in a transparent, fair, and consistent manner.

Novartis discloses monetary and non-monetary support to patient organizations around the globe by June 30 in compliance with the EFPIA Code and other industry codes such as the PhRMA Principles on Interactions with Patient Organization to support its ethical and transparent relationships with patient organizations.