Novartis Posts Higher Net Profit as Key Drugs Lift Sales

By Billy Gray

Novartis posted a rise in third-quarter net profit, after higher sales for key drugs allowed the company to offset a hit from patent expirations.

The Swiss drugmaker on Tuesday reported net profit for the quarter of $3.93 billion compared with $3.19 billion for the same period last year.

Sales were $13.91 billion compared with $12.82 billion. Core operating profit--one of its preferred metrics, which strips out exceptional items--rose to $5.46 billion from $5.145 billion.

Analysts polled by Visible Alpha had forecast $13.99 billion in sales and $5.54 billion in core operating profit.

The company confirmed its full-year guidance, saying it still expects sales growth to be in the high-single digits and core operating income growth in the low-teen digits.

Generic competition in the U.S. for drugs including heart medicine Entresto hurt Novartis's top line, but the company said this was offset by continued sales of other key products such as Kisqali for breast cancer, Kesimpta for multiple sclerosis and Pluvicto for prostate cancer.

Write to Billy Gray at william.gray@wsj.com

This story was corrected at 0705 GMT. The original misstated the company's third-quarter sales last year figure as $12.82. The figure was $12.82 billion

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 28, 2025 03:08 ET (07:08 GMT)