Novartis

Novartis looks at Alcon spin-off

Novartis may spin off its struggling Alcon eye care business and is to launch a share buyback programme worth up to $5 billion, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday in reporting fourth-quarter results that lagged market expectations.

Its sales were flat in the fourth quarter while posting a $120 million operating loss, forcing a critical look at whether to sell eye care division. "We’ve not ruled anything out, all options are on the table," Chief Executive Joe Jimenez said on a results news conference call.

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