Espicom publishes over 135 reports on companies developing anti-cancer drugs from the largest blue-chip multinational to smaller specialist organisations - and all phases of development from research to launched products.

For each company you can evaluate:
* Summary: At a glance review of agreements, products and R&D pipeline.
* Overview: Background, ownership structure and research techniques they have developed for drug discovery.
* Agreements: Key details of who the company is collaborating with, and on what.
* Product Portfolio: Product monographs, mechanism of action and indications approved and in development.
* R&D Pipeline: Concise summaries of products in research covering status, indication and clinical trials.
* Financials: An analysis of financial performance including P&L, R&D expenditure and funding. Novartis was established on 20th December 1996, as a merger of equals, based on an exchange of shares, whereby the former Sandoz shareholders received 55 per cent and the former Ciba shareholders received 45 per cent of Novartis. The merger gained Novartis worldwide leadership positions in Life Sciences - Healthcare, Agribusiness (now divested), and Nutrition. The strategic decision to focus on Life Sciences has resulted in the group divesting or spinning-off all the remaining activities of the Industry Division.

Novartis' Pharmaceuticals sector manufactures, distributes and sells branded pharmaceuticals in the following therapeutic areas: oncology and haematology; transplantation and immunology; central nervous system; rheumatism, bone and hormone replacement therapy; dermatology; cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory diseases.

Following its merger with Chiron in April 2006, Novartis is creating a new division called Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, consisting of two businesses: Novartis Vaccines and a diagnostics business that will retain the Chiron name. While the Chiron blood testing business is already strong in the US, Novartis sees an opportunity to strengthen its position globally. To grow this business Novartis plans to make additional investments in research and development, plus to explore opportunities to expand in molecular diagnostics.

Chiron's BioPharmaceutical business will also be integrated into Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where Chiron's products and pipeline will complement the in-market and development portfolios of Novartis in the oncology, respiratory and infectious diseases franchises. Chiron's early-stage research will be incorporated into the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, which will maintain Chiron's existing research centre in Emeryville, CA.