December 22, 2004: 2004 has been a year of great accomplishments and change for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR).

Here is a look back at some of the highlights of the year:

• We have made good progress toward our primary goal of discovering new and innovative medicines. We brought several new compounds into the clinic, through successful Proof of Concept Trials in man. The new processes instituted to ensure the choice of the best compounds among several candidates are increasing our preclinical success rates by permitting savings in time, energy, and expense, and a more productive use of resources.
  
  
• Through internal and external reviews, we have refined our portfolio to focus better on unmet medical needs and tractable scientific approaches. New groups, such as Molecular Pathways, Epigenetics, the Models of Disease Center, and the Antibodies Center, and significant growth in platforms such as Global Discovery Chemistry, the Protease Platform and Discovery Technologies will ensure our ability to utilize the power of the genome and to broaden the chemical universe with which we challenge the genome.
  
  
• This year we have initiated deals with almost 50 outside companies and approximately 100 academic groups, which will also be important in driving our success. All of these have been carefully chosen to complement and build our internal capabilities. Two of the most important deals signed this year were:
  
  
• strategic collaboration with MorphoSys to discover and develop antibody-based biopharmaceuticals as therapeutic agents, in order to address unmet medical need across a variety of diseases. 
  Read media release (May 19, 2004)
  
  
  
• a unique public/private collaboration with the Broad Institute to uncover genetic basis for type 2 diabetes.
  Read media release (October 27, 2004)
  
  
• Of course we keep track of the compounds we developed, once they were handed over to our colleagues in development. We are pleased to notice that many of these compounds showed very good results in clinical trials this year. Two of the most promising ones are:
  
  
• ICL 670, a treatment for chronic iron overload, a potentially life-threatening condition; Global submission is anticipated for first half 2005.
  Read the latest media release about ICL670
  
  
• LAF 237,  first in a new class of oral anti-diabetic agents. LAF 237 is currently in phase II.
  Read the latest media release about LAF237
  
  
• The NIBR Cambridge site has developed into a great campus. Researchers began moving in the building at 250 Mass Ave - the headquarters of NIBR, housing state-of-the-art laboratories for more than 700 people – in April 2004. An “Open House” for our Camridge neighbors took place in October, which included the unveiling of the new water tower design.
  
  
• At NIBR, our people are our most important asset and our Human Resources group has done an excellent job in recruiting new talents this year. We are already at almost 900 new colleagues on our way to our initial goal of one thousand at the new headquarters. In addition, we have been fortunate to retain our scientific talent at the other globel NIBR sites.
  
  
• NIBR encourages its scientists to publish the results of their research in a timely and rigorous manner, in highly regarded, openly accessible, and relevant scientific and medical journals. This year our scientists published 157articles in peer reviewed journals.
  
  
  
• Our company wants to be a “good corporate citizen” and actively supports the communities we live in and other global initiatives. In 2004 NIBR sponsored about 75 scientific global meetings and many charitable programs. In the Cambridge community alone, NIBR supported more than 30 community projects, among them: Science Club for Girls, Cambridge Housing Assistance, Community Art Center, Massachusetts State Science Fair, etc. In addition, NIBR scientists are serving as mentors for 7th graders from the Cambridgeport Elementary School through the Netpals program. 
   
• Internal events continuously take place at NIBR to promote the exchange of information and science among our people. Some of the 2004 highlights in this area were : A 3-day research conference in Vienna, Austria attended by more than 850 of our researchers, a retreat for all the NIBR postdoctoral fellows in Boston, MA a 3-days event in Chatham, MA for the NIBR unit heads, the VIVA award ceremony, honoring some NIBR scientists for their outstanding contributions, etc. 

At NIBR we know that we still have many challenges ahead of us. Drug discovery is a worthy challenge even for the most innovative and most hard-working. We are confident that our teams are up to that challenge, and will continue to discover and develop even better medicines for our patients.