novartis case study answers

Reimagining medicine through data-led transformation

Novartis uses a multi-cloud data analytics platform to optimize operations and accelerate innovation.

5-MINUTE READ

Call for change

For pharmaceutical companies, data is in many ways the lifeblood of the industry. With New Science developments—such as genomics, molecular profiling, biomarkers and patient monitoring devices—more data sets are being generated than ever before. Additionally, new supply chain security, patient services and marketing capabilities are creating a treasure trove of operational, patient and healthcare practitioner data. All these advances will produce new data streams exponentially larger than what companies are currently dealing with. As they do so, the data’s value will exponentially grow. The data-thirsty personalized medicine market alone was valued at $493.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a 6.2% compound annual growth rate from 2021 to 2028.1

Elizabeth Theophille, Chief Technology Transformation Officer at Novartis and Dr. Petra Jantzer, Senior Managing Director, Global Accenture Partner for Novartis talk about Novartis’ Digital Transformation journey and how their Gartner award-winning, multi-cloud platform supports the big data and analytics strategy employed to ultimately Reimagine Medicine.

Novartis, an industry pioneer, has embarked on an ambitious transformation to become the leading medicines company powered by data science and digital technologies. It knows data are only as good as the tools used to analyze and exploit them. How could it make data from all the nooks and crannies of the business work to revolutionize operations, drug development and commercialization? How could it be ready for the data-rich demands of personalization and advances in new therapies like cell and gene therapies?

Accomplishing these goals was difficult with the company’s legacy IT system, data fragmentation and information silos. Novartis required the flexibility and scalability of cloud technology to consolidate data and support dynamic, future-ready technology that help improves collaboration, insights and innovation. An end-to-end data and analytics solution would offer a broader and deeper view of activities to make business and clinical decisions. The insights it yields would help reimagine medical innovation to get patients life-changing therapies, fast and at a lower cost.

1 Grand View Research, “Personalized Medicine Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Personalized Medical Care, Personalized Nutrition & Wellness, DTC Diagnostics, Telemedicine, Complementary Medicine), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 – 2028,” May 2021, Grand View Research website , accessed October 4, 2021.

When tech meets human ingenuity

From tech giants to startups and academia, Novartis collaborated with a variety of entities including Accenture on a project with the potential to transform all aspects of the business. We first helped map the stakeholder business value for this journey then created the data and analytics operating model, governance, road map, architecture, centralized data catalogue and platform for a holistic solution that harnesses new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

Working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the primary cloud provider, Novartis also engaged Microsoft Azure to create a multi-cloud platform, complying with the best clinical and pharmaceutical manufacturing practices and offering capabilities across functions. The powerful analytics capabilities enable Novartis to crunch large (and growing) data sets. At launch, approximately 35% of global company data was on the new platform, with the remaining data planned for migration.

Teams can also develop use cases for new analytics-related projects to explore and scale across the business. This helps teams experiment with potential analytics use cases to solve business challenges and profit from opportunities. In some cases, we help deliver the use case programs.

The platform ingests, unifies and refines more than 9TB of internal and external data from over 80 sources in Development, Commercial, Manufacturing and Quality, and Corporate Business Services at a rate 20% faster than legacy systems. The different types of data are put into a standardized format, which can then be used by teams from across the company to simplify reporting.

Novartis’ advanced analytics platform ingests, unifies and refines:

terabytes is the amount of internal and external data the platform ingests, unifies and refines.

sources in Development, Commercial, Manufacturing and Quality, and Corporate Business Services.

faster than legacy systems.

A valuable difference

Novartis is reinventing its business to drive faster decision-making and bold innovation. Teams now have a smorgasbord of analytics tools, supported by AI and ML, to simplify reporting, augment existing programs with data insights, or create new products and services.

“Data democratization” makes insights accessible to relevant users, efficiently balancing ethical, security and regulatory requirements without creating data bottlenecks. Easily interpretable data enable Novartis’ global workforce, partners and researchers to maximize collaboration, ingenuity and productivity. Novartis’ people and research partners use the new platform to cross-pollinate ideas and develop a library of innovative analytics use cases and data models to be applied across the business.

Previously, it took about two weeks to set up a new use case; now it can be done within one day. The use case development time has also accelerated from 10 days to three days. More than 200 use cases are in the pipeline and 36 are under development. Eleven use cases have been rolled out, including DESIRE, a tool for monitoring clinical trial site risk and performance. The benefits go beyond R&D to encompass all aspects of the business. A patient services use case, for instance, is helping Novartis mine call center feedback to improve marketing reach and campaigns.

Novartis has sparked a digital revolution within its business to support data-driven decision making, predict future trends, optimize operations and spur growth. As data from new sciences and medical technologies grow, Novartis has powerful tools to accelerate drug launches—and improve patient outcomes.

Use cases for new analytics-related projects that Novartis can explore and scale to solve business challenges and exploit opportunities:

from across Novartis in pipeline

up and running

days to development

day to set up

This solution has drastically transformed our business.

Loic Giraud / CoE Lead Business Analytics – Novartis

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Novartis case study, novartis captures the latest biological knowledge for drug discovery, the challenge.

Novartis has amassed decades of data on how various compounds affect protein targets, such as enzymes, with about a billion data points in all. That historical data is critical but sparse compared with the amazing granularity of the data currently being collected.

Today, Novartis uses an automated process that captures high-content image data showing how a particular compound has affected an entire cell culture. This generates terabytes of phenotypic data.

Novartis faced the challenge of combining its historical data stores with this burgeoning phenotypic data. They also needed a way to place all this data within the larger context of ongoing medical research from around the world.

The Novartis team wanted to combine its data with medical information from NIH’s PubMed. PubMed contains about 25 million abstracts from some 5,600 scientific journals.

The Novartis team sought a way to empower researchers to ask questions connecting the dots between all of this data in the context of the latest medical research.

As Stephan Reiling, Senior Scientist at Novartis, put it, “When we try to analyze this data, it becomes much more apparent that we need to have a way to store biological knowledge and then run queries against it.”

The Solution

Ingesting and connecting data about diseases, genes and compounds – along with identifying the nature of the relationships between these elements – held the promise of accelerating drug discovery.

The Novartis team wanted to link genes, diseases and compounds in a triangular pattern. “For successful drug discovery, you need to be able to navigate this triangle,” explained Reiling. The Novartis team decided to create a knowledge graph stored in Neo4j, and devised a processing pipeline for ingesting the latest medical research.

Text mining is used at the beginning of the pipeline to extract relevant text data from PubMed. That data is then fed into Neo4j, along with Novartis’s own historical and image data. The data pipeline populates the 15 kinds of nodes that were devised to encode the data. The next phase fills in the relationship information that links the nodes together. The team identified more than 90 different relationships.

Novartis uses Neo4j graph algorithms to traverse the graph and identify a desired triangular node pattern linking the three classes of data together. Graph analytics not only find relevant nodes in the desired triangular relationship, but also employ a metric the team designed to gauge the associated strength between each node in each triangle. Using this capability, the team devised queries to find data linked by the desired node pattern, with a given association strength, and then sort the triangles according to this metric.

When researchers query the knowledge graph, results show the strength of the correlation between elements. If a researcher already knows about a highly associated correlation, they might choose to investigate others, which could take their work in new directions.

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• case analysis
• Constitution of India
• Intellectual Property Law
• patent laws

Novartis A.G. v. Union of India : case analysis

This article is written by Harsha Jeswani and further updated by Shriya Singh . It discusses in detail the facts of the case, the issues raised, the provisions involved, and the observations of the Supreme Court. Additionally, it also covers the after effects of the landmark judgement.

This article has been published by Shashwat Kaushik .

Table of Contents

Introduction

Intellectual property is an intangible category of property, and a ‘patent’ is a subset of it. An innovation that grants its owner the legal right to prevent others from creating, using, or commercialising it for a certain amount of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention is known as a patent. When an innovation is granted a patent, the state grants the creator a legislative right to prohibit others from producing, using, or commercialising their creation for a maximum of 20 years. 

One of the seminal rulings in Indian history was rendered by the two-judge bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Novartis AG v. Union of India (2013) . In this landmark judgement, the pharmaceutical corporation Novartis contested the denial of their patent application for the leukaemia treatment Gleevec, launching the first significant judicial challenge to India’s recently modified patent legislation. India supposedly made the last adjustments needed in 2005 to bring its intellectual property laws up to par with the World Trade Organization’s minimum standards for intellectual property protection, known as the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights . 

The judgement rendered by the Supreme Court in the case mentioned above is one of the landmark judgements of the Supreme Court. The decision came as a relief for millions of people around the world to have access to medicines at a low cost, thus preventing the pharmaceutical industries from “evergreening” their patents.  While the judgement is seen as a means to ensure the availability of life-saving drugs at an affordable price to people in India and elsewhere, at the same time the decision defined the scope of Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970 . In the said matter, the Supreme Court refused to grant a patent to a drug by Novartis AG on the basis that the said drug did not involve an invention that is capable of being patentable under Indian law.

Details of Novartis A.G. v. Union of India

Following are the details of the case-

• Case Name – Novartis Ag vs Union Of India & Ors
• Equivalent Citations – AIR 2013 SUPREME COURT 1311, 2013 AIR SCW 2047, 2013 (5) SCALE 12, 2013 (6) SCC 1, 2013 (115) CORLA 7.2 SN, 2013 (3) KCCR 276 SN, (2013) 2 RECCIVR 685, (2013) 5 SCALE 12, (2013) 3 MAD LJ 421, (2013) 3 MAD LW 449, (2013) 4 ALL WC 3611
• Court – Supreme Court of India
• Bench – Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Aftab Alam
• Appellants – Novartis AG, Natco Pharma LTD., M/S Cancer Patients Aid Association 
• Respondents – Union of India & Others
• Judgment Date – 1st April, 2013

Brief facts of Novartis A.G. v. Union of India

Novartis, a multinational pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Switzerland, applied in 1997 for a patent of Glivec, an anticancer medication used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors and chronic myeloid leukaemia. The company claimed to have invented the beta crystalline salt form of imatinib (Imatinib is a 2-phenylamino-pyrimidine derivative protein used to manage and treat chronic myelogenous leukaemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and other cancers), which is imatinib mesylate. The medication was a vital one, which had already been granted the status of patent in thirty-five other nations.

A two-stage innovation procedure incorporating the insertion of a predetermined number of beta crystals into Imatinib’s base form resulted in the claimed inventive step and served as the foundation for Novartis’ patent application for the beta crystalline version of Imatinib in India.

Particularly, the patent application’s claims state the following details regarding imatinib’s beta crystalline form-

• Its flow qualities were more advantageous,
• Its thermodynamic stability was superior, and 
• Compared to imatinib’s alpha crystalline form, it was less hydrophobic.

The beta crystalline form of imatinib was said to be “new” and superior because of these properties, which included “better processability of the methanesulfonic acid and the inclusion of a complex formula-I, in addition, provides the benefit of processing and storing.

Nevertheless, agricultural and medicinal goods were not granted patents in India until then. That is to say, only methods and processes were granted patent in India and not the products. In accordance with the TRIPS agreement, pharmaceutical items were granted patent protection in India after 2005. Following that, India updated its patent legislation and began awarding patents for medical products. The Madras Patent Office subsequently rejected Novartis’ 2006 application for a patent on its medication Glivec, citing the drug’s prior, internationally patented version as the reason for no significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Section 3 of the Indian Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 , served as the foundation for the aforementioned ruling. This provision states that a known chemical may only be patented if its new forms demonstrate “enhanced efficacy.” The Patent Office determined that Glivec could not be patentable under Section 3(d) of the Act, since it did not identify any increased effectiveness in the medication.

Novartis filed two writ petitions under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution with the High Court of Madras in May 2006. The first appealed against the Madras Patent Office’s decision to deny Novartis’ request for a patent, while the second contested the Indian Patents Act’s Section 3(d) on the grounds that it violated Article 14 of the Constitution and was unclear, arbitrary, and not compliant with TRIPS.

The Madras High Court denied Novartis’ Writ Petitions, stating that it lacked the authority to assess whether a local statute violates an international treaty and hence could not evaluate if Section 3(d) complies with TRIPS.  Regarding Section 3(d), the Amending Act’s goals were to stop evergreening and give individuals simple access to life-saving medications. It cannot be seen as ambiguous and arbitrary as a result.

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), an appellate body of patent controllers, saw the beginning of a new period of litigation as the said case was transferred to IPAB from the High Court. Although the IPAB regarded the imatinib mesylate beta-crystalline form as a novel and innovative development, it declined to award Novartis a patent for the medication due to its violation of Section 3(d) of the Act. Novartis filed a Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution with the Supreme Court to contest the aforementioned ruling.

Provisions involved 

The entire case mainly deals with the following provisions of the Patents Act, 1970:

Section 2(1)(j) 

Section 2(1)(j) of the Patents Act, 1970, defines the term “ invention “. The provision states that invention means a new product or process that involves an inventive step and is capable of industrial application. 

Section 2(1)(ja) 

Section 2(1)(ja) of the Patents Act, 1970, defines “ inventive step “. It states that an inventive step is a feature of an invention that involves technical advances. It further states that the technical advancement, when compared to the existing knowledge, economics, or both, does not make the invention of wheels in the eyes of the persons killed in that art.

Section 3(d) 

Section 3 of the Patents Act, 1970, brings out a list stating what are not inventions within the meaning of this Act. Section 3(d) provides that the following are not inventions –

• The simple act of discovering a new form for a substance that is already known; or 
• The mere discovery of a new property, the application for which is already in existence; or 
• The simple act of using a machine, apparatus, or process that is already known unless the known process produces a new product or uses at least one new reactant. 

The explanation attached to the provision provides that for the purpose of this Act, certain substances are considered to be the same unless their properties significantly differ in terms of efficacy. The mentioned substances are as follows –

• salts, 
• esters, 
• ethers, 
• polymorphs,
• metabolites, 
• pure form, 
• particle size, 
• isomers, 
• mixtures of isomers,
• complexes, 
• combinations, and 
• other derivatives of a known substance

The main issues that came before the Supreme Court were:

• Whether the invention is inconsistent with Section 3(d) of the Patent Act or not?
• How should efficacy be interpreted under Section 3(d) of the Patent Act?
• Does the invention qualify for the test of novelty and invention for the alleged product?
• Whether the invention of the ‘beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate’ claimed by Novartis is more efficient than the substance from which it is derived, i.e., ‘imatinib mesylate’?

Arguments by both parties 

Arguments raised by the appellant.

The following arguments were made by Novartis-

• Novartis stated that the provision [Section3(d)] is ambiguous and has resulted in arbitrary decisions since it is unclear what exactly qualifies as an “enhancement of efficacy” and “significant enhancement of efficacy,” as needed.
• Novartis contested the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s decision regarding Section 3(d). They contended that while its patent application meets the requirements for novelty, inventive step, and industrial application and qualifies as an “invention” under Section 2(1)(j) of the Patents Act, 1970, the provision pertaining to “discoveries” does not apply to it.         
• They also claimed that the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s ruling ignored the fact that they believed the beta-crystalline to be an innovation and that it met the novelty test. Instead, they applied Section 3(d), which deals with discoveries, and rejected Novartis’ invention for patent protection.
• They contested the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s ruling that the word “efficacy” refers to medicinal efficacy, claiming that a single word in legislation cannot have two distinct meanings. In other words, they argued that there cannot be any further meaning associated with the term ‘efficacy’ other than ‘medicinal efficacy’.
• They argued that enhanced biodiversity and thermodynamic stability are characteristics that improve efficacy, and the beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate demonstrated both of these qualities. Ultimately, they concluded that only the beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate had a therapeutic effect, in contrast to the original forms.
• It is not conceivable to demonstrate greater efficacy of the beta-crystalline form of imatinib mesylate; Section 3(d) could only be applied to substances already in existence and stressed that such efficacy had never been proven for imatinib.

Arguments raised by the respondents 

Numerous arguments were presented by the respondents in the Apex Court, with the main goal being to demonstrate that-

• The beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate is neither novel nor non-obvious given that the drug was first published in 1996 in Cancer Research and Nature.
• The efficacy mentioned in Section 3(d) should be understood to mean therapeutic efficacy rather than just physical efficacy.         
• The Doha Declaration was used by the respondents a lot, and they also included passages from parliamentary discussions, Non-Governmet Organisations’ petitions, and the World Health Organization’s petitions, among other sources, to emphasize the public policy aspect of the arguments about the accessibility and price of life-saving medications.

Observations of the Supreme Court

The court observed that the product was one of the new forms of the substance and not the whole substance. It has always existed in the original amorphous form. For the patentability, the product, thus. has to qualify for the test laid down in Section 3(d) of the Patent Act. The Section clearly specifies that a new form of the substance is not patentable under Indian law unless it enhances its “known efficacy”. 

Novartis contended that the physicochemical properties of the polymorph form of the imatinib molecule, i.e. better flow properties, better thermodynamic stability and lower hygroscopicity, resulted in improved efficacy and hence is patentable under Indian law. The Apex Court rejected this contention, stating that in the case of medicines, efficacy means “therapeutic efficacy” and these properties, while they may be beneficial to some patients, do not meet this standard. The Supreme Court also held that patent applicants must prove the increase in therapeutic efficacy based on research data in vivo in animals.

Three alternative meanings of “enhanced efficacy” have been assigned by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this case. They are-

• The first interpretation holds that India’s standards for “industrial application” and “inventive step” fully encompass greater effectiveness.
• According to the second meaning, any improvement in how well a medication works as a treatment is referred to as increased effectiveness.
• The third is that, according to the Madras High Court and the IPAB, greater efficacy solely refers to therapeutic efficacy. There are trade-offs associated with each interpretation, and they all have implications for public health, innovation, and ever-greening.

The Supreme Court in the Novartis case examined the relationship between Section 2(1)(j) and Section 3. It found that they create separate filters, that is, even though a product or a process might be considered as an invention under Section 2(1)(j), it could still be denied a patent under Section 3 if it falls within any of the enshrined listed items of Section 2(1)(j).

The court recognised that Section 2(1)(j) states that there are three elements of invention, which are given as follows-

• It must be new, and it must possess novelty 

One of the most important factors in determining whether an invention may be patentable is its uniqueness. “Any invention or technology that, as long as the subject matter has not entered the public domain or is not part of the state of the art, has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the nation or abroad in the world before the date of filing of a patent application with complete specification.” Stated differently, the originality requirement mandates that an innovation must never have been disclosed to the public. It must be entirely original and unrelated to any previous works of the same or similar kind. 

In addition to being a completely novel product or service, the innovation has to generate new data and a fresh approach. It has to be different from all that is known at this time. Second, no prior publication of this innovation exists. On the other hand, a straightforward discovery with a few special characteristics does not qualify as an innovation. Furthermore, these two requirements must be met in order to grant patent rights: invention and usefulness. To be eligible for patent protection, an invention must be new and distinct. Novelty by itself does not constitute a complete criteria. Additionally, the product needs to be sufficiently original and helpful.

• It must have an inventive step. In some jurisdictions, it is also called the non-obviousness requirement, that is, the invention must not be obvious 

A feature of an innovation that makes it difficult for someone with experience in the field to understand and involves either technological advancement relative to what is known already or economic significance. This implies that an individual who is informed about the subject matter of the invention must not be able to recognize the innovation. It ought to be distinct and difficult for an expert in the field to notice.

To develop a product, the inventor or creator must have used their own unique and innovative ideas. The invention should be of the kind that, under normal circumstances, a specialist in the same subject would not have predicted. However, one must bear in mind that the technological answer offered by someone would not be considered creative.

• It must be capable of industrial applications  

“The invention is capable of being manufactured or employed in an industry” is the definition of industrial applicability. In essence, this indicates that the invention is not feasible in theory only. The requirement that a product should be relevant to all industries suggests that an idea cannot be patented unless it has real-world applications. In order to protect and ensure that the inventor may profit from their invention without fear of competition, patent certificates are granted. It is imperative, therefore, that the innovation be practical and have industrial uses.

The Honourable Supreme Court has seen these elements as the core test for patentability.

“Therapeutic efficacy” is what is meant to be understood when one speaks about efficacy. Since the true objective of Section 3(d) was to prohibit the idea of “ever-greening” patents, no patent can be issued if the test in that Section is not met. Additionally, it was decided that increased bioavailability does not always translate into increased therapeutic effectiveness. It was determined that Novartis’ 30% improvement in bioavailability was inadequate. 

Nothing about the enhanced effectiveness in beta form is disclosed by this patent. In this instance, the Court stressed that Novartis had not shown any proof demonstrating that the drug’s therapeutic impact on the human body was genuinely enhanced by the beta crystalline form’s higher bioavailability. 

The court further said that the definition of “invention” as stated in Section 2(1)(j) is “a new product, but the new product in chemicals and especially pharmaceuticals may not necessarily mean something entirely new, completely unfamiliar, strange, or not existing previously.” As a result, it was decided that imatinib mesylate’s beta crystalline form did not pass the inventiveness and patentability tests.

The Supreme Court held that the true intention to enact Section 3(d) was to prevent the concept of evergreening, and, thus, if the invention does not fulfil the test of Section 3(d), it cannot be granted a patent. The court further specified that this case should not be interpreted to mean that Section 3(d) bars all incremental inventions. It is with regard to the field of medicine, especially in cases of life-saving drugs, that great care and caution need to be taken so as to protect the right to life of the masses.

Because imatinib mesylate was already covered under the patents for the original drug imatinib, the Supreme Court ruled that it lacked originality. The court examined several scientific publications that explain imatinib, the free base, as well as imatinib mesylate, its salt form. The court further ruled that a patent holder cannot use a restricted interpretation of an already-existing invention when assessing its novelty in relation to a salt derivative while simultaneously asserting a wide interpretation of the same patent in infringement proceedings. The court agreed with the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s assessment that the beta crystalline form was not a patentable “invention” since it did not satisfy the increased efficacy criteria outlined in Section 3(d) of the Patents Act and could not be regarded as innovative.

Hence, the appeal by Novartis was dismissed.

Rationale behind the judgement

Along with preventing “evergreening,” or the practice of prolonging a patent’s term by making small changes to an already-existing product, the case also seeks to strike a balance between the interests of innovation and public health.

The Glivec medication, which treats chronic myeloid leukaemia and some other cancers, is at the centre of the issue over its patentability. The molecule imatinib, the basis for Glivec, was previously identified and protected under a US patent held by Novartis. Imatinib was said to have been created by Novartis in two distinct forms- imatinib mesylate, a salt form that rendered it soluble in water and appropriate for oral use, and a particular polymorph. 

The Court further explained the intent behind Section 3(d), saying that it was meant to guarantee that only legitimate ideas are given patents in India and to stop the evergreening of patents.

Since the Court’s ruling guaranteed the continued production and reasonable pricing of generic Glivec in India and other developing nations, the ruling was widely heralded as a win for public health and access to medications. For many CML and other cancer patients, Glivec is a lifesaver; nonetheless, the majority of individuals cannot afford it. While generic manufacturers offer Glivec for roughly $175 per patient per month, Novartis sells it for about $2,600 per patient per month. The ruling was also interpreted as upholding India’s policy space and autonomy in setting its patent requirements and safeguarding the public interest.

Analysis of Novartis A.G. v. Union of India 

The resolution of the problems presented in this case hinged on the appellant’s ability to get the patent, Imatinib Mesylate, by filing an application. The Indian Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 defines what constitutes a “new invention” as any invention that has not been published beforehand or used in any part of the world prior to the filing date of the patent application, which must include a complete specification. Stated differently, it is neither included in the state of the art as defined by Section 2(1)(l) nor is it a part of the public domain.

While interpreting “inventive step” in accordance with Section 2(1)(ja) of the aforementioned Act, it was held that an invention must either achieve economic significance, a technological advance relative to the state of knowledge, or both and ultimately fail to be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant field.

Consequently, it follows from the definitions above that nothing that already exists or can be learned may be patented.

It is crucial to take note of Section 3(d), which forbids the granting of patents to any derivatives derived from recognized substances, with the caveat that these derivatives must demonstrate ‘enhanced efficacy’. Following the 2005 modification, the innovation for which a patent claim has been filed must, according to Section 3(d), be more effective than the ‘known substance’ from which the newly claimed invention was developed.

The appellants, in this case, believed that ‘Imatinib Free Base’, which is to be designated as the ‘known substance’, would be easier to demonstrate to have a higher level of efficacy than ‘Imatinib Mesylate’. The issue is that this would fall under the category of ‘known substance’ because it was earlier than the claimed invention and continued to exist before it was.

The Supreme Court made it clear that the phrase ‘efficacy’ exclusively encompassed ‘therapeutic efficacy’, rejecting Novartis’s contention for a broader meaning. It was made very apparent that not all positive or helpful qualities are significant, only those that have a direct relationship to efficacy—in the case of medicine, this is therapeutic efficacy.

Regarding the matter of bioavailability, it was stated that this refers to a medication’s capacity to dissolve in a patient’s bloodstream. It was determined that protection may be provided under Section 3(d) in the event that bioavailability increases by 30% and if it can be demonstrated that doing so would boost therapeutic effectiveness. The Court examined the claimed invention’s efficacy with a recognized chemical in order to confirm its therapeutic efficacy, and it concluded that the qualities did not qualify under Section (d) since they did not boost ‘therapeutic efficacy’.

This ruling is highly praised because it stops patented goods from becoming ever-greener, and Section 3(d) of the Patent Act of 1970 prohibits large pharmaceutical companies, like Novartis in this case, from obtaining a second patent by making slight modifications to previously known information or technology. In the end, Novartis was unable to demonstrate that, when compared to ‘Imatinib Mesylate’, the ‘Beta Crystalline form of Imatinib Mesylate’ had greater therapeutic effectiveness.

Significance of Novartis A.G. v. Union of India 

The ruling by the Supreme Court is a major comfort to many who cannot afford the life-saving medications produced by these powerful pharmaceutical companies. By obtaining patents over their medications, these corporations, who have already gained billions of dollars, put the lives of the impoverished at risk by preventing people from buying the pharmaceuticals at a low cost. It is impossible to dispute the significance of patents in preventing new inventions, as long as they are made reasonably accessible to everybody. On the other hand, by gaining a stranglehold on their medications, businesses like Novartis are endangering the lives of these underprivileged individuals.

Nonetheless, the Supreme Court’s ruling made it quite evident that India is a growing nation and that one billion people’s access to affordable medications is essential. Thus, the Supreme Court’s decision to forbid the liberal approach to patent awarding and to limit patent issuance to only legitimate inventions, as opposed to frivolous inventions, was warranted.

The Supreme Court ruled unequivocally that, given India’s status as a developing nation, cheap access to medications is necessary to preserve lives and uphold the rights of billions of people. The honourable court further held that when granting patents, a fair and liberal approach must be taken.

The Novartis case, which puts the pharmaceutical business inside the purview of patent law establishes a significant precedent for access to medications. The ruling rendered by the Supreme Court potentially acted as a template for other developing nations when it comes to interpreting and implementing the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement in the future. This case demonstrates how India is upholding its international commitments with regard to intellectual property laws while making sure that local requirements are met by interpreting its legal duties in a manner that is appropriate for the needs and preferences of the country. The verdict benefits India’s indigenous industries while also prioritizing social fairness above business interests. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is a patent .

Section 2(1)(m) defines the term “patent” and states that it is a patent granted for any invention under the Indian Patent Act, 1970.

Thus, the word patent is not defined under the Act, though what can be patented and what cannot be patented have been specified under the Patent Act. A patent, in common parlance, is a grant from the government that confers on the grantee for a limited period of time (in 20 years) the exclusive privilege of making, selling, and using the invention for which a patent has been granted. It is a contract between society as a whole and the individual inventor. Patent rights are granted only to new inventions which are capable of industrial application.

What are patentability standards? 

To be eligible for a patent, an invention needs to be “new” in the legal sense. An invention lacks the required originality to be patented if it may be predicted from the prior art, which is determined by domestic laws and case law.

In the Indian system, how long is a patent valid? 

Every awarded patent has a 20-year term starting on the day the application was filed. The term of a patent, however, will be 20 years from the international filing date granted under the Patent Cooperation Treaty for applications filed under the national phase of the treaty.

Does global protection come with Indian patents? 

No, patent protection is only applicable inside the borders of India because it is a territorial right. The idea of a worldwide patent does not exist. Nevertheless, if an application is filed in India, the applicant will have twelve months from the date of filing to file a matching application for the same invention in convention nations or under the Patent Cooperation Treaty . Every nation where the applicant needs to safeguard his innovation should grant patents. 

What qualifies for patentability? 

A patent can be applied for an invention that involves an innovative step, is fresh to the market, and has potential industrial applications. Nevertheless, it must not be among the innovations covered by Sections 3 and 4 of the Act that are not patentable.

What is the could-would test? 

The could-would test is a test to determine whether a patented invention is obvious or not. It is necessary to find out whether a person working on a particular problem would have reached the solution and not whether that solution could have been reached. Therefore, it must be very obvious, and it must live within the track in such a way that it must be the most natural suggestion that someone is working on that problem, and that is when a solution is considered to be obvious under patent law.

What is objective indicia for non-obviousness? 

Objective indicia for non-obviousness is a method through which the courts have tried to avoid hindsight bias by developing some objective criteria for non-obviousness. It helps counter the subjective nature of non-obviousness inquiry.

Some examples of such objectives are – 

• where there was a long felt need for a solution to the problem,
• The cost spent in arriving at that solution, etc.

What is the seminal case?

Biswanath Prasad Radhey Shyam v. Hindustan Metal Industries (1978) is infamously known as the seminal case. The Supreme Court dealt with the concept of obviousness in this case and laid down a test regarding the same. The court said, “Whether the alleged discovery lies so much out of the track of what was known before as not naturally to suggest itself to a person thinking on the subject, it must be the obvious or natural suggestion of what was previously known.”

What is the evergreening of patents?

Organisations adopt the strategy of “evergreening,” also referred to as “secondary patenting,” to keep generic competition out of their market. Evergreening of patents is the process of obtaining further patents on modifications to the original drug, such as new forms, new dosages, new releases, or new combinations. This will help the domestic generic medicine market grow and millions of people who cannot afford the costly modified drugs.

• https:// www .icsi.edu/media/webmodules/IPRLP_NOV29.pdf .
• https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-1079-chapter6-en-india-an-international-guide-to-patent-case-management-for-judges.pdf .
• https://www.icsi.edu/media/webmodules/FINAL_FULL_BOOK_of_EP_SBEC_2018.pdf .
• https://unctad.org/ippcaselaw/sites/default/files/ippcaselaw/2020-12/Novartis%20AG%20v.%20Union%20of%20India%20%26%20Others%20Indian%20Supreme%20Court%202013_0.pdf .
• https://dashboard.lira.bc.edu/downloads/dc131760-452f-4b5a-926b-6af8ed2252ba . 

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• January 2017 (Revised October 2018)
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Novartis: A Transformative Deal

• Format: Print
• | Language: English
• | Pages: 36

About The Author

David J. Collis

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• Novartis: A Transformative Deal  By: David Collis and Ashley Hartman

20 Novartis Interview Questions and Answers

Prepare for the types of questions you are likely to be asked when interviewing for a position at Novartis.

Novartis is a global healthcare company that provides innovative healthcare solutions to patients and customers around the world. As a leading healthcare company, Novartis is always looking for talented and ambitious employees.

If you’re lucky enough to get an interview with Novartis, you can expect to be asked some tough questions. Novartis is known for their rigorous interview process, which is designed to test your skills and knowledge.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common Novartis interview questions. With our sample answers, you’ll be able to show off your skills and knowledge, and impress your interviewer.

Novartis Interview Process

The interview process at Novartis is lengthy, difficult, and overall not a great experience. It can take up to two months to hear back from the company after applying, and the interviews themselves are very challenging. Many of the questions are behavioral and require you to give specific examples from your past work experiences. The interviewer was also very difficult to read and it was hard to tell if they were interested in what I had to say. Overall, I would not recommend applying to Novartis unless you are absolutely sure that you want to work there.

• Why do you think you would be a good fit for Novartis?
• Tell me about your experience with clinical trials.
• What is the most challenging problem you have faced in a work environment and how did you tackle it?
• Which USP chapters are important to consider when working on analytical methods development?
• How familiar are you with drug discovery processes?
• If hired, what will be your main focus area?
• Think of a time that you had to deal with conflict at work, how did you handle it?
• Where do you see yourself within 5 years?
• Do you feel comfortable making cold calls?
• Describe your customer service style.
• What would you say is your greatest strength?
• Are you available to travel as part of the job?
• Provide an example of a scientific study that you designed and executed.
• What skillsets and qualifications are you looking for in a role?
• When was the last time you overcame an obstacle in order to achieve a goal?
• Have you ever worked in a team-selling environment?
• What motivates you to come into work every day?
• What are some tools you use to stay up to date with the latest scientific discoveries?
• Do you have any experience leading teams?
• Would you be willing to help train junior staff members?

1. Why do you think you would be a good fit for Novartis?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to get an idea of your knowledge about Novartis and how you feel about working there. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of Novartis that appeal to you or why you think you would fit in with their culture.

Example: “I have always been interested in pharmaceutical companies because I find them so interesting. After doing some research on Novartis, I found out that they are one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world. I am very excited to work here because I know I will learn a lot and have the opportunity to advance my career.”

2. Tell me about your experience with clinical trials.

Novartis is a pharmaceutical company that conducts clinical trials. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience with this process and how it relates to your qualifications for the position. Use examples from your past work history to show how you’ve helped companies conduct clinical trials.

Example: “I worked as a research assistant at my university, where I was responsible for helping professors design their studies and recruit participants. I also helped them analyze data and write up reports on our findings. These skills are directly applicable to working in a pharmaceutical setting because they help me understand what’s involved in conducting clinical trials.”

3. What is the most challenging problem you have faced in a work environment and how did you tackle it?

Novartis wants to know how you handle challenges in the workplace. This question can help interviewers understand your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to new situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you faced a challenge and overcame it.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating an event marketing plan for our company’s annual conference. The budget we had for the project was very small, so I knew that I would have to get creative if I wanted to create an effective campaign. I decided to use social media as the primary platform for our campaign. I created several different ads on Facebook and Instagram, which helped us reach thousands of people who were interested in attending the conference.”

4. Which USP chapters are important to consider when working on analytical methods development?

This question is a continuation of the previous one and tests your knowledge of USP chapters. It also shows that you are familiar with how to apply what you learn in these chapters to real-world situations.

Example: “The most important USP chapter for analytical methods development is Chapter , which covers general requirements for test methods, including validation. This chapter explains the importance of validating test methods before using them on production batches. The other two relevant chapters are and . These cover specific types of test methods, such as physical/chemical testing and bioassays.”

5. How familiar are you with drug discovery processes?

Novartis is a pharmaceutical company that develops drugs, so it’s likely they’ll ask you questions about your knowledge of the industry. Your answer should show them that you have an understanding of how drug development works and what role Novartis plays in this process.

Example: “Drug discovery is a complex process that involves many different steps. I’ve worked with several pharmaceutical companies throughout my career, so I’m familiar with the general processes involved in developing new medications. However, each company has its own unique way of conducting research and testing products. For example, one company I worked for focused on researching diseases that affected children. This was because the CEO had lost his daughter to cancer, so he wanted to find a cure for her disease.”

6. If hired, what will be your main focus area?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and how you plan to apply it in this role. When answering, be sure to highlight an area that aligns with what the company is looking for.

Example: “My main focus will be on improving patient outcomes through innovative solutions. I have extensive experience working with patients who are at risk of developing chronic conditions due to their current health issues. In my last position, I developed a program where we worked with patients to create personalized wellness plans based on their unique needs. This led to a 20% decrease in hospital visits among our clientele.”

7. Think of a time that you had to deal with conflict at work, how did you handle it?

Novartis is a global company, so it’s likely that you’ll have to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures. The interviewer may ask this question to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. Use your answer to show that you can be diplomatic when working through disagreements.

Example: “I once had a disagreement with my manager about our marketing strategy for one of our products. I was new to the team at the time, so I didn’t want to speak up too much. However, after thinking about it overnight, I decided to approach my manager again the next day. I told her that I disagreed with her decision but that I would do whatever she asked me to do. She appreciated my honesty and we were able to come to an agreement.”

8. Where do you see yourself within 5 years?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential career path at Novartis. It’s important to be honest with yourself and the interviewer when answering this question. You can use it as an opportunity to discuss what you hope to achieve in your career, but also how you plan to get there.

Example: “I see myself working toward becoming a manager within five years. I would like to work my way up through the company by proving myself as a valuable employee. I know that if I continue to put in hard work, I will have the opportunity to advance.”

9. Do you feel comfortable making cold calls?

Cold calling is a common practice in sales. Employers ask this question to see if you’re willing to make cold calls and how comfortable you are with it. If you have experience making cold calls, explain what your process was for doing so. If you don’t have any experience, consider explaining why you would be uncomfortable making them.

Example: “I’ve never had to make cold calls before, but I’m not opposed to it. In my previous role, we were encouraged to prospect new leads on our own time. I found that the best way to do this was by reaching out to people who already knew me or my company. This helped me build relationships with potential clients and led to several successful sales.”

10. Describe your customer service style.

Novartis is a pharmaceutical company that provides healthcare products to patients. As such, it’s important for employees to have strong customer service skills. Your interviewer will want to know how you would interact with customers and clients in the role. Use examples from your previous experience to describe what makes you an effective communicator.

Example: “I believe that every interaction I have with a client or patient should be positive. When I’m on the phone with a client, I make sure to greet them warmly and introduce myself. I also take notes while they’re talking so I can address any questions or concerns they may have. If there are any issues with their order, I work hard to resolve them as quickly as possible. This ensures that my clients leave happy and return to Novartis.”

11. What would you say is your greatest strength?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you have researched their company and understand what they are looking for in an ideal candidate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what skills or strengths you possess that would help you succeed in your new role.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to collaborate with other team members to find solutions to problems and ensure everyone feels valued and respected. In my last position, I was able to use this skill when one of my coworkers was having a particularly difficult day. I asked her if she wanted to take a break from our project so we could both return to it later feeling refreshed. She agreed, and we were able to finish our task without any issues.”

12. Are you available to travel as part of the job?

Novartis is a global company, so it’s likely that you’ll need to travel for work. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with the idea of traveling and how often you might have to do so. Before your interview, read through the job description to see if there are any requirements about traveling. If there aren’t, consider asking the interviewer directly about their expectations.

Example: “I’m happy to travel as part of my job. I understand that Novartis is a global company, so I expect that I may be required to travel at least once or twice per year. I am flexible when it comes to scheduling trips and can usually arrange my personal life around them.”

13. Provide an example of a scientific study that you designed and executed.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include the steps you took to complete the study as well as the results of the study.

Example: “In my last position, I was tasked with creating a marketing campaign for a new product that would help people who suffer from seasonal depression. My team and I decided to conduct a survey to find out what types of products our target audience already used to treat their symptoms. We found that many of them were using over-the-counter supplements to help manage their symptoms.

We then created an ad campaign that focused on how our product could complement other treatments they were already using. The campaign was very successful, and we saw a 10% increase in sales within the first month.”

14. What skillsets and qualifications are you looking for in a role?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and what you’re looking for in a job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list skillsets that are important to you and how they relate to the role you’re interviewing for.

Example: “I’m looking for a position where I can use my communication skills on a daily basis. In my last role, I was responsible for communicating with patients and their families as well as other healthcare professionals. This experience has helped me develop strong interpersonal skills and increased my confidence when speaking in front of large groups.”

15. When was the last time you overcame an obstacle in order to achieve a goal?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle challenges and overcome obstacles. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to adapt to change and commitment to achieving goals.

Example: “When I was in college, I wanted to get a part-time job that would allow me to work during my free time while also allowing me to focus on my studies. However, I had no experience working in retail or customer service. So, I applied for several jobs at local stores and restaurants. After getting rejected from all of them, I decided to apply for a position as a sales associate at an electronics store. The manager hired me because he saw my passion for learning new things and overcoming obstacles.”

16. Have you ever worked in a team-selling environment?

Novartis is a global company, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with other sales representatives from around the world. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience collaborating with others and how well you work in a team environment. If you don’t have direct experience selling as part of a team, consider describing your previous experiences working collaboratively on projects or assignments.

Example: “I’ve worked in a team-selling environment for the past five years. In my last position, I was one of three sales representatives who worked together to meet our monthly quotas. We were all very competitive, but we also helped each other out when needed. For example, if one of us had an important meeting during the day, we would cover their appointments at night. It was a great learning experience.”

17. What motivates you to come into work every day?

Novartis is a large company that offers many opportunities for growth. Your answer to this question can show the interviewer what motivates you and how your personal values align with Novartis’s mission statement. When answering, consider what drives you in your career and why you want to work at Novartis specifically.

Example: “I am motivated by helping others. I have always been interested in medicine because it allows me to help people on a daily basis. In my last role as a nurse, I saw firsthand how much of an impact I could make on patients’ lives. Working at Novartis would allow me to continue making a difference in people’s lives while also growing professionally.”

18. What are some tools you use to stay up to date with the latest scientific discoveries?

Novartis is a pharmaceutical company that needs its employees to be up-to-date on the latest scientific discoveries. This question helps the interviewer determine how you stay informed about new developments in your field and whether you have any special interests or hobbies that help you learn more about science.

Example: “I subscribe to several newsletters, blogs and online magazines that cover recent research. I also follow some scientists on social media who share their work as it’s published. I find these resources very helpful for learning about new breakthroughs and innovations.”

19. Do you have any experience leading teams?

Novartis is a global company, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with people from different backgrounds and locations. Your interviewer wants to know if you have experience leading teams of various sizes and how you managed them. If you don’t have any management experience, talk about your ability to work well in groups or collaborate with others.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects where I was the only person who knew what we were doing. In these situations, I had to rely on my communication skills to get input from other team members and delegate tasks. This helped me learn how to manage larger teams when I started my career.”

20. Would you be willing to help train junior staff members?

Novartis is a large company that offers many opportunities for professional development. Your answer to this question can help the interviewer determine if you are willing to take on leadership roles in your career. Showcase your ability to mentor others by explaining how you would train and support new employees.

Example: “I have been fortunate enough to work with some very talented colleagues throughout my career, so I know firsthand how helpful it can be to learn from someone who has more experience. If hired at Novartis, I would be happy to offer training sessions to junior staff members. I believe that mentorship is an important part of developing our skills as pharmacists and healthcare professionals.”

20 Conduent Interview Questions and Answers

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Analysis of Novartis AG v/s Union of India

Nacto pharma ltd and m/s cancer patients association.

• Section 3(d) applies only to a single step discovery of a new form of substance. The claim made by Novartis was that the Imatinib free base which was a known substance had to undergo various technical procedures and hence it is not a single step form and has dual stages. Thus section 3(d) should not be considered.  
• The word which does not result in enhancement of the known substance is made for the patentee for a mere trifling change to create a new form of a known substance. If there is an enhancement of the known substance, then it must be patentable. The known substance, in Novartis invention was Imatinib free base. The efficiency of the beta crystallin form is practical efficiency has anti-tumour property and not just a theoretical possibility and it should be known to public, which was not in case of Imatinib free base. It has an known efficiency and hence section 3(d) should not be applicable.

Ratio decidendi

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Location: Cambridge, MA Project Type: Corporate Interior Product: Mosa , Terra Maestricht Matte Mid Cool Grey 226V | 24″ x 48″; 8″ x 24″; 12″ x 24″, Rectified Quantity: 17,000 Square Feet Design Firm: CannonDesign Tile Installer: Port Morris Tile & Marble Corporation Certifications: LEED Gold

As the world faces an aging population followed by a generation with increasingly hectic schedules, unhealthy eating habits, and chronic diseases, the ability to create new technology and innovative drugs to serve these populations is a key driver for success in the pharmaceutical industry.

Novartis is a $50B global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address these evolving needs of patients worldwide. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries and they reached nearly 1 billion people globally in 2015. About 123,000 people of 144 nationalities work at Novartis around the world.

In 2012 Novartis sought to build a new research campus that would change the way Novartis conducts research, promoting increased collaboration, idea-sharing and teamwork. The $600 million laboratory and office complex would serve as the centerpiece of the company’s worldwide research operations based in Cambridge, MA and would be used to evolve and streamline research operations. The Boston Globe titled it as, “one of ten projects that will change [the] innovation landscape in Boston and Cambridge”.

Novartis tasked CannonDesign with achieving two main objectives with the design concept: adding research capacity, and increasing collaboration. CannonDesign, in turn, developed the “New Scientific Workplace,” a design strategy focused on creating new opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary communication. The design strategy achieved the objectives by pairing highly-flexible laboratory spaces to accommodate multiple sciences with conference and informal meeting spaces. These spaces would be used for innovation and research to serve the world’s population.

Challenge | Natural Stone Costs and Delays

Creative Materials Corporation was contacted by Port Morris, the tile installer on the massive project, which included two new buildings and the renovation of a third building. Port Morris was looking for a tile alternative to natural stone. Stone flooring initially selected and installed on a separate Novartis campus wound up causing long delays and cost-increases. Because stone is a natural product, there are many elements that cannot be controlled. These include weather patterns and environmental factors related to the location from which the stone is sourced, the color range of the stone, and size of the blocks being pulled from the quarries matching what is needed. Special installation and maintenance methods must be used with natural stone which makes it more expensive to install and also to maintain. A combination of these issues had caused problems for Novartis.

Port Morris needed to find a solution for the new buildings. Port Morris knew Creative Materials to be an expert in the tile space and reached out for help with developing an alternative solution to stone.

The Creative Materials team understood going in how high-profile this project was, and what the sensitivity would be in terms of timeframe and budget. The design concept was also critical. The flooring was requested as a simple concrete/stone look in large format with several “lines” of stone cutting through that would get mixed in with the porcelain tile.

Given the background on the project, there would be no tolerance for delays or product failure. The product needed to be of highest quality, cut to exact dimensions to fit with stone pieces interwoven, and appropriate for a commercial space. It also needed to achieve the prescribed aesthetic and arrive on schedule.

Solution | Mosa Tile Checks all the Boxes

Creative Materials suggested Mosa tile as the best fit for the project. Mosa offers the highest quality standards for porcelain tile combined with a premium aesthetic that directly matched the vision desired. Mosa tile is rectified to industry-best tolerances which would allow for modularity with the stone pieces improving the likelihood of a successful installation and minimizing joint sizes for a cleaner aesthetic. Creative Materials was also aware that Novartis was seeking LEED certification for the building, and knew that Mosa is the only tile manufacturer to offer Cradle-to-Cradle Certified¹ porcelain tile.

Porcelain tile is often the best fit for commercial spaces such as Novartis because there are more aspects that can be controlled in a long-lasting product. Advances in manufacturing allow tile to achieve an almost exact aesthetic, but with the added benefit of the ability to control shade variation, size, and quantity, as well as technical specifications such as slip resistance. Simply put, tile can be manufactured to meet a need, natural stone cannot. Creative Materials is an expert in the sourcing and supply of tile for commercial projects and takes pride in understanding the complexities and needs of these spaces to help clients mitigate risks.

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¹Mosa makes the world’s first and only Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM porcelain tile*, adhering to elevated standards of sustainability. These porcelains embody all of the TCNA-cited health, safety, and environmental benefits, and may also qualify a project for LEED. Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM is a certification mark licensed exclusively for the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.  *Includes all Mosa tile collections and products excepting Classics Kho Liang le Collection, Mosa Colors 10×10, and glossy wall tiles: Models  1050, 16950, 16970, 16980, 17940, 17970, 17980, 20970, 20980, 5430

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MockQuestions

Novartis Mock Interview

To help you prepare for a Novartis job interview, here are 35 interview questions and answer examples.

Novartis was updated by Krista Wenz on May 10th, 2022. Learn more here.

Question 1 of 35

When have you shown great integrity at work?

How to Answer

1st answer example, 2nd answer example.

Community Answers

Integrity comes from honesty and consistent moral values. Talk to the interviewer about the ways you show integrity in the workplace.

"In my last position, I was responsible for the cash deposit every day. There was never a discrepancy in the four years that I worked there. I best show my integrity by being a consistently reliable employee."

"Always! Honesty and integrity are two values at the center of my being. I like to think I practice this in the workplace by always doing the right thing by the company, its customers, and its people."

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35 Novartis Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Novartis interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

Table of Contents

• 1.   Behavioral Questions
• 2.   Direct Questions
• 3.   Discovery Questions
• 4.   Education Questions
• 5.   General Questions
• 6.   Operational Questions
• 7.   Teamwork Questions

1. When have you shown great integrity at work?

Written by Krista Wenz on May 10th, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

2. when a problem requires a quick solution, how do you respond.

When it comes to complex problem solving, the decisions do not always arrive quickly. It takes practice, experience, and confidence to learn which decisions yield the best results. Problems that require you to act quickly can be emergencies, such as knowing where the fire extinguisher is and grabbing it fast enough to put out a small grease fire in the company kitchen or being asked to take on a new responsibility and only given five minutes to decide if you are prepared to take on. Going with your gut is a skill, and the more you learn to trust your intuition, the easier it becomes to make these types of decisions. Demonstrate that you are confident and able to react swiftly when the need arises.

"When an urgent problem arises at work, I respond in a calm and assuring manner. I am a natural leader, which means that my team often looks to me for answers. Last week, we had an administrative employee no-show on a crucial and busy day. I called a temp agency, and they filled the position in just one hour."

"I react swiftly in emergencies. Perhaps my skills come from my years as a parent, having to think fast and put out fires! If a quick solution is required, I do a fast overview of the facts and make a decision based on risk factors."

Jaymie's Feedback

3. Describe a time your ethics were tested.

Why the interviewer asks this question.

As an employee of Novartis, you may be asked by friends and family to provide confidential information or other unethical behavior. The interviewer asks this question to see that you are honest and have integrity. The interviewer wants to hear that you are ethical and can be trusted if hired.

"My ethics were tested by my ex-boyfriend. He worked in a competitor's lab and knew I was working on a new drug for autism. He kept asking me for information and the proprietary ingredients in the medication, which he knew I could not provide without losing my job. I would not provide confidential information and ultimately left him. I cannot be with someone who does not share my values and ethics."

"My ethics were tested while working at a retail store before changing careers. I saw an employee put some items in her purse without paying for them and then leave on her break. I went to the break room to ask if she would like me to ring the items up, and she told me she didn't know what I was talking about and to mind my own business. I cannot tolerate people who lie and steal, so I told my supervisor about the incident. They replayed the surveillance cameras and saw I was telling the truth. After that, she was fired, and I received a promotion to Assistant Manager."

4. When have you had to be extra thorough in completing tasks?

Some tasks will require a keener eye and additional diligence. Discuss a time you were extra thorough during a work-related project.

"I have to be extra thorough from time to time when I have especially detail-oriented clients. Often, this will mean spending additional time on calls with them to highlight project changes. I am okay with being extra thorough when needed."

"I am always thorough, but we have monthly team meetings to discuss our performance metrics. That reporting takes a little longer."

5. Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.

Talking about your most significant accomplishment will give the interviewer a definite idea of where you place your values. It will also show the interviewer more about your personality, how you like to be motivated, and how to coach you in the future. It is okay to brag a little bit when answering this question. Show that you are proud of yourself and your career accomplishments!

"The greatest accomplishment in my career was graduating from University as an honors student while working full time in a related field. I was at the top of my class and working full time. This success showed me that I could dedicate myself to my career and reach the goals that I set for myself. It felt great to accomplish so much and receive recognition for my dedication."

"I am proud of having been chosen to be a mentor to new hires in the department. I think I've informally mentored and exhibited leadership since day one, and being recognized for being a great teacher and able to train and shape the new additions to the department is an awesome pat on the back."

6. This concludes our interview. Do you have any questions for me?

The interviewer wants to make sure that all of your questions about the company or job role are answered during the interview. It is best to ask at least a question or two to show the interviewer your eagerness to learn all you can. Review the job announcement and research the company beforehand so you are not asking questions that could be found during your research.

"Yes, I do have a few questions. Thank you for asking. Could you please describe the company culture? Also, do you have any hesitancy in offering me the position?"

"I do have a couple of questions. Thank you for asking. First, when would you like to have this position filled? And second, are there any required qualifications you do not see on my resume?"

7. Tell me about an organization or group you have contributed to outside of work.

Many hiring managers will choose one candidate over another because of their volunteer experience. They feel that it shows strong character and selflessness - all qualities that make a great employee. Talk to the interviewer about your willingness to give back to your community in some form of volunteerism. If you do not have formal volunteer experience, you can draw on things you do in your spare time to assist friends, family, or even your current employer.

"I have volunteered with a naturopathic doctor for the past seven years, helping him on his annual trip to Vietnam. He educates villages on the importance of clean drinking water and provides them with filtration systems. I help fundraise throughout the year and distribute the filtration systems to villages that need them. I also help teach the community how to use and replace the filters and how to educate others on their use."

"I have not formally volunteered recently. However, I spend a lot of time helping my sister, who is a single mom. I babysit on weekends, cook dinners for her and the kids, and drive them to appointments when necessary. I feel that it is essential to take care of my family's needs."

8. Tell me about your relationship with your previous boss.

The interviewer asks this question to see how you work with and speak of others. They want to know if you will be an easy person to work with or a challenge. When you answer this question, remain positive, even if the experience wasn't. Keep your answer short and respectful. Avoid talking about any previous drama, and do not speak poorly of your employer.

"I had a very healthy relationship with my previous employer. She was easy to approach, and we often bounced ideas off each other. I would sum it up as a relationship led by strong mutual respect."

"I make a point of investing in coworker relationships. It's important to me that these relationships are established early on, especially with my boss. My current boss knows that he can rely on me for anything in his absence, and my responsibilities have consistently increased to reflect that level of trust."

9. How would you rate your performance in this interview so far?

This question can create feelings of stress and anxiety, so it's best to be prepared. Be honest with the interviewer about how you feel the interview has gone so far.

"I believe that this interview has been quite informative, and I am happy with my performance. Is there anything that I can clarify for you from this conversation?"

"I am not sure if I have been able to portray myself 100% accurately in this interview, though I am trying my best. If there is anything more that I can clarify for you, I would be happy to do so."

10. What are your salary expectations?

The best way to discuss your salary expectations is to use your current earnings as an example. Be open and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary-based questions arise.

"Currently, I earn a base salary of $45,000 per year plus a potential 20% annual bonus. Last year my earnings were $52,000, and I would like to stay in the same range or slightly higher."

"I am currently making $100,000 per year with two bonus opportunities. I am looking for compensation that is aligned with the role and provides an opportunity for growth."

11. By this time in your career, you should have advanced further. What has slowed down your career progression?

When an interviewer sees slow career progression on your resume, they will immediately want to determine whether this is by your own choice, outside circumstances, or a lack of motivation to create growth. If your career has progressed slower than you wish, you must be honest with the interviewer when discussing this.

"I agree that my career progression has been slower than some. You will see that between 2001 and 2009, I worked for the same company without an increase in my job title. The company was too small to offer me a promotion, as the next level was ownership, and the business wasn't for sale. After this, from 2009 to 2012, I was on leave to care for my ailing parents. The growth since returning to work has been steady, but those years were a bit of a standstill. I am ready to spring into action now and forge ahead in my career."

"Early in my career, I was left to care for an elderly, sick parent. Her care required more of me than expected, so I allowed my career to sit and wait. I am happy with that decision. Spending those last precious moments with a loved one is worth the setback."

12. Are you applying for any other jobs?

It always puts a little bit of fire under the hiring manager if they are aware that you are actively looking for a new position. Tell the interviewer about your search so far.

"I am keeping an eye out for viable positions. Although I am not in the final stages with any other company, I am actively seeking a new position."

"Yes, I am active in my job search and am in the final stages with another company. Do you have a timeline in mind for a decision on this position?"

13. Do you prefer to work with studies related to humans, animals, or plant life?

Perhaps you have a preference, and maybe you don't. However you answer this question, be sure to keep your reply positive. (IE: Avoid saying "I dislike studies related to animals." You don't want to shut down any particular practice.)

Answer Example

"I can honestly say that I do not have a preference as of yet. As I continue to carve out my career, that may change; however, for the moment, I am happy to be working in the biotech industry in any related focus."

14. How do you define success?

Consider what success means to you. Tell the interviewer how you see success. Describe the success you plan to bring to this particular position, should you be offered the role.

"I define success by my ability to reach the goals that are set for me. On a personal level, those goals are the things I wish to achieve in my life. On a work level, they are the targets that are set for me and the professional development that I seek."

"Success, to me, is achieved when I am pleased with the quality of my work and feel proud to submit it."

15. Who would you say inspires you?

Your life's inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, your family, a celebrity, an author - anyone! Talk to the interviewer about who has inspired your life and why.

"I find inspiration in a variety of people and things. I would have to say that the person who has most greatly inspired me has been my grandmother. She always had a smile on her face no matter how hard she worked, and she loved everyone. She was well respected and always gave more than she received. I try to live like she did, as much as I can."

"My previous manager was a huge inspiration to me. Her passion for this industry was motivating and put the fire in me to climb the ladder in my career."

16. If you could research any particular disorder, disease, or illness which one would you choose, and why?

The interviewer would like to get to know you and your particular interests. Consider what area within pharmaceuticals would you focus on if you had zero limitations. Be sure to show your passion for your career path and connect your answer to an area of focus related to Novartis.

"At Novartis, I know that one of your primary focuses is on XYZ. This particular focus is one of the reasons I applied to work here; the study of XYZ is a particular passion of mine."

"We have so many options when it comes to research topics. If I had to choose just one area of research, I would choose to research autism, and the spectrum, in full. My little brother received an autism diagnosis recently, and I have the drive to learn more about it."

17. If you could choose any area in your field to study further, which area would you focus on? How do you feel that would help you with a career at Novartis?

Talk to the interviewer about your favorite area of study when it comes to pharma /biotech. Consider why you would choose to focus on that area. Share with the interviewer why you feel that strengthened skills in this particular area will help you achieve your goals with Novartis.

"If I could choose any area of focus I would enjoy a deeper focus on orthobiologics. I find the idea of finding advanced ways of assisting the body in healing itself fascinating. If there were advancements in this area, I feel it could help your organization achieve some major goals as well."

"If given the opportunity to further my studies, I would choose to focus on Biochemical Pharmacology. I feel that will help me in a career here since this is one of your larger areas of focus. Your biochemical pharmacology department is so advanced, the idea of landing a job in that area is fascinating to me."

18. Why did you choose a career in the Pharma/Biotech industry?

The interviewer would like to know what drew you into a career within their industry. Show the hiring manager that you have a natural attraction to this particular industry and that you're here to stay.

"I chose a career in Pharma/Biotech because I enjoy the study of medicine, science, and the correlation between them. It's an ever-changing industry that never becomes dull."

"I chose a career in Biotechnology because I love science and helping others. I knew I would be happy with this career choice for years to come."

19. List three qualities that make you the best candidate for Novartis.

After researching Novartis, you should have a firm idea of the qualities they admire most in their candidates. Discuss the attributes that will help you to stand out as a top candidate.

Here are some qualities that make you a great candidate for any company: - A robust existing network in the industry - A great reputation - Leadership capabilities and experience - Integrity and likability - Strong-minded - Thirst for knowledge

"I understand that this role requires stand-out skills in organization and leadership and an energetic demeanor. I would say that these are three of my top skills, and I have many others! My references would attest to these skills as well."

20. Would you further your post-secondary education to include a Ph.D. in your field?

Some upper-level positions within Novartis may require a higher level of education. Assure the interviewer that you would be willing to discuss enhancing your knowledge to grow within the organization eventually.

"I have considered furthering my education to include a Ph.D. It would need to be in tandem with full-time employment, but I would certainly consider achieving this goal through evening and weekend coursework."

"Oh yes! I am a big believer in higher education. These days, to be a stand-out candidate or employee, I think that having a Ph.D. is best."

21. This position requires a minimum Bachelor's Degree in a science related field. Walk me through your post-secondary education.

Your post-secondary career demonstrates your ability to complete a degree, multitask, and apply yourself. Walk the interviewer through your post-secondary experience, making sure to highlight any recognition or awards you may have achieved.

"I have a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Tampa College of Natural and Health Sciences. I graduated with Honours, which was an especially proud moment since I had also been working part-time."

"I recently graduated from the University of Georgia with my Degree in Pharmaceutical Science. With this degree, I look forward to joining Novartis and carving out a great career with you. When the timing is right, I plan to return to school to obtain my Master's Degree in a science-based field. This extension of learning would be in tandem with my full-time job."

22. What do you like least about your current job?

The interviewer asks this question to determine why you are looking for a new place of employment. When the interviewer understands why you are leaving your current position, they can see if the company can provide you with what you are seeking.

"What I like least about my current job is the lack of opportunity for professional development. I am one year away from obtaining my Doctoral Degree, and there is no room for me to grow with my current employer. I like that Novartis encourages professional growth and offers opportunities to advance within."

"The only aspect of my current job that I do not enjoy is they only offer part-time work. I want to work full-time and am excited for the opportunity of full-time employment with your company."

23. Describe your ideal employer.

A job search isn't just a one-sided hunt. You must also feel as though this is a good fit for you. Tell the interviewer about your ideal employer. Be specific, and keep the conversation positive. Avoid speaking poorly of any previous managers or organizations.

"My ideal employer brings charisma and passion to their work. I work best with organizations that have a penchant for learning and promote their employees based on performance."

"I am looking to join an organization where my continued learning is encouraged. It's important to me, as I carve out my career, to learn new skills under an organization that wants me to grow with them."

24. What are your strengths?

Consider which personal advantages make you excellent at your job. Strengths can be skills or qualities that help you overcome difficult circumstances or accomplish challenging tasks. In a work context, your strengths help you complete your to-do list, understand client needs, and apply what you have learned in your training. Talk to the interviewer about a couple of your strengths and why those will help you to be successful in this role. Some great strengths to mention are: - Communicative - Loyal - Collaborative - Tech Savvy - Flexible in Schedule/Availability - Persistent and Determined - Eager for Knowledge/New Skills

"I think my strengths are my perceptiveness and ability to be observant of the needs of others. These strengths are part of what makes me an excellent performer in a client-facing role."

"I am not sure what others would pick, but I feel that my strengths are my dedication, determination, and ability to build long-lasting and trusting professional relationships."

25. How does this position fit into your career goals?

Consider whether this particular position is a good fit. Assure the interviewer that this position will be challenging for you, is a step up in responsibilities, and fits with your overall career goals.

"My primary goal in my career as an HR professional is to eventually work my way from an Administrator-level to HR Partner. I feel that your organization offers a strong path towards those goals, and I am excited about what this position has to offer."

"My primary career goal is to find a position where I can stay long term. Because your company has such a strong reputation for workplace culture, it fits perfectly with my desires for a long-term fit."

26. In your opinion, what is the biggest development in Pharmaceuticals in the past three years?

The term 'pharmaceutical' refers to the creation and sale of medicine. Discuss what you see as the most significant development in the past few years.

"There have been so many developments in the pharmaceutical industry the past three years, but I feel that the biggest was the creation of the first vaccine for Dengue."

"I am most impressed by the way the pharma industry has switched its focus from treatment to prevention. It's a great way to flip our thinking in the industry and will save the lives of so many people."

27. In your opinion, what is the biggest development in Biotechnology in the past three years?

The term 'biotechnology' refers to the use of cells and molecules to create a product within medicine, genetic testing, or even agriculture. Discuss what you see as the most significant development in the past few years.

"There have been so many developments in biotechnology over the past three years, but I feel that the biggest was the development in gene editing. It's an incredibly controversial and intriguing practice."

"There is a multitude of biotech developments from which to choose! I recently read about the new methods of manipulating human cells to beat a range of diseases. According to Fortune Magazine, Chinese scientists have launched the first CRISPR gene-editing trial for the treatment of cancer. It's pretty incredible, isn't it?"

28. If you could choose any special area of focus with Novartis, which would you choose?

Working for Novartis could open a variety of career options for you. Consider which career path you would choose if you had your choice. Talk to the interviewer about where you'd like to see your career path go with Novartis.

"I am currently working as a Clinical Research Assistant and would like to eventually grow into a Principal Scientist role, or something of the like, with Novartis. My primary goal is to find a long-term home where I can continue to expand my knowledge in the area of (choose an area of study)."

"That is a challenging question when there are so many interesting options at my fingertips. If I had to choose one area of specialty today, I would choose a topic within animal science. I am passionate about the health of animals."

29. What industry related changes do you foresee in the next 12 months?

Assure the interviewer that you have a keen and honest interest in this industry by discussing the growth and change that you foresee in the next year. If the organization has any upcoming news or changes, be sure to mention these as well.

"I read on your website that Novartis is expected to see a 43% increase in the sales of product ABC. This fact piqued my interest as I have seen reports that forecast a strong increase in the use of product ABC for alternative medical therapies. There are continual changes in this industry, but I see this particular one being very significant in the upcoming months."

"I recently read an article by Q1 Productions that addressed this exact topic. The article mentioned that 2018 is going to be a great year for the pharma industry due to the economic upturn. The thought is that this will increase stock prices, thus allowing pharma companies to grow their offerings, expand operations, and further their research and reach. It's an exciting thought!"

30. How many years have you worked in the Pharma/Biotech industry? What keeps you interested in our line of work?

Take a few minutes to walk the interviewer through your work history, highlighting the most relevant positions and skills. Talk to the interviewer about your desire to work for Novartis long-term.

"I have worked within Pharma/Biotech for the past 15 years. I started in a lab assistant role and am now at the supervisory level with my current company. I stay in this industry because the opportunities are endless. I would be thrilled to continue my career growth in this industry with Novartis."

"I am new to the Pharmaceuticals industry and recently graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Science. I plan to remain in this industry for my entire career, starting in this apprenticeship role and then moving into a role further focused on the development of new treatments."

Operational

31. How do you determine priorities when you have multiple projects due?

Explain how you decide which task needs your attention most when torn between multiple projects. Assure the interviewer that you can be diligent when assessing your priorities.

Prioritizing is a skill that requires practice. There are many approaches you can take. Here are some suggestions: 1) Make a list. By thinking through and writing down each task, you can see it on paper. 2) Mark what is urgent or essential. Take into account deadlines and meetings. 3) Order each task based on effort and estimated value, considering due dates and how long it will take to do each item (also considering how much time you have). Show the interviewer you have a system in place to think through what needs to happen and when. The better you can prioritize, the more productive you will be, making you an asset to their company!

"I determine which project requires my attention by the number of hours we are behind and the project size. I am comfortable delegating tasks when needed, but I am also aware that this requires an additional commitment of hours from me. I have never underdelivered on a deadline."

32. What sources do you look to when you need to solve a complicated problem?

The interviewer wants to know that you can think outside the box or even ask for help when you are stuck on a complicated problem. Maybe you look to a mentor or boss for advice. Perhaps you have handbooks, manuals, and systems you turn to for help. Offer some relevant examples based on your industry. If you work in the medical field, you may turn to textbooks, online research, colleagues, or even a patient's history to find the right solution. If you work in customer service, you may ask the customer what they need to find the best way to solve the problem. Show the interviewer that you are knowledgeable and equipped to handle these types of scenarios.

"When faced with a complicated problem, I look to the resources that my current company has provided me. The answer is almost always in there. If it's a moral dilemma rather than a knowledge-based dilemma, I ask my supervisor for his thoughts and opinion since I value him as a mentor and expert in our industry."

"To solve a complex issue, I reach out to a manager or mentor from a previous role and ask how they've handled such issues in the past. I am always ready to dive back into our handbook, but these types of scenarios are often not covered there, which is why I value a human, experiential approach. I know there are so many folks in the industry who have so much to teach me and have probably already "been-there-done-that," so I love to utilize them as a resource."

33. How do you stay informed on changes in the Pharma/Biotech industry?

The Pharma/Biotech industry is fast-moving, and changes and developments happen all the time. Assure the interviewer that you are engaged in industry-related changes.

"I follow multiple medical journals and blogs related to changes in the Pharma/Biotech industry. My favorite is wiley.com, which is a strong source for updates in a variety of related medical studies."

"I have set up some industry-related google alerts, and I also subscribe to Pharma Forum, Science Direct, and Medical Futurist online. I am always looking for new opportunities to learn, so if you have recommendations, I am happy to hear them!"

34. In your opinion, why is it important to develop relationships with coworkers?

This answer may seem obvious to you because enjoying your time with coworkers is sometimes the best part of the job! If you aren't a naturally social person, this question may be more challenging to answer. Talk to the interviewer about how you develop relationships with coworkers when you start a new job. Think about what is important to you about these relationships.

"I value my relationships with my coworkers because we support each other and make each other laugh when the work environment becomes intense. I have a coworker that I eat lunch with every day. We've helped each other by simply listening to what's going on in each other's lives. It's nice to have colleagues who understand you on a personal level."

"To accomplish anything in a job, you need your team members. I rely on my team members to get projects done. I will often call them in when I need advice or to pick up the slack when I'm in a pinch. If you don't have a good rapport with your co-workers, it can limit your ability to be great at your job."

35. How will you earn the trust of your coworkers?

It is essential to nurture workplace relationships. Talk to the interviewer about how you plan to earn the trust of your new coworkers should you be offered the position. The interviewer would like to know how you can win your new coworkers over. Describe how you earned the trust of your coworkers in the past by getting to know them and their families, keeping your word when you say you are going to do something, lending a hand when others need help, or covering a coworker's shift when they have a family emergency.

"I feel that the best way to earn the trust of my coworkers is to be helpful, always do what I promise, and be honest with them at all times. Strong relationships have to be built on these principles."

"Trust is something you earn over time with people. Trust happens when people deliver on doing what they say they will do. I take the approach of underpromising and overdelivering to accelerate the trust process. I will lead by example and be transparent in my communications. With strong trust, teams can accomplish great things together."

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Novartis Tests

• https://www.novartis.co.uk/careers
• Basel, Switzerland
• 303 questions

Novartis – based in Basel, Switzerland – is the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical and healthcare company by market cap. It produces drugs for the treatment of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, MS and breast cancer, among many others.

Careers at Novartis

As a global company, Novartis offers work opportunities all around the world across numerous different divisions. Roles include medical advisors, account managers, government affairs managers, etc. In the UK alone, Novartis employs 13,000 people.

Novartis also offers a Future Talent Program , leading the next generation to shape the future of healthcare. Apprenticeships, undergraduate internships and Graduate roles are available across a range of roles.

Novartis takes pride in the company’s values and mission. It believes in rewarding its people and helping their individual development, and promises diversity and inclusion within its ranks.

Novartis Application Process

Online application form, pre-screen phone interview, numerical reasoning tests, excel case study, video/phone interviews, face-to-face interviews.

The application process for Novartis varies depending on the role you’re applying for; a business analyst will encounter different tests than a medical advisor.

Below, you can find the most comprehensive process, which may include stages you won’t be asked to go through.

On average, it will take around 2 weeks to go through all the stages, from first phone screening to face-to-face interviews with your potential managers. The process can be quite straining, so it’s important you come prepared and ready to impress.

The interviews will get harder as you progress and the competition will get stronger. However, there is a lot you can do to show your best skills.

Novartis online application form

The first step in the process is applying online. Whether you are approached by a recruitment company or find an open position of your interest, be sure to attach a tailored CV detailing all your relevant skills.

Novartis pre-screen phone interview

If your competencies match the required skills, someone from HR at Novartis will give you a call. This will be a casual phone pre-screening — a chat about your knowledge and past experiences, and how they match with the job.

Although the interviewer won’t go into too much detail at this point, you’re still expected to know your stuff. Be confident about how your skills meet the job’s criteria and why you would be a good fit for the company.

Novartis Aptitude Tests

Novartis numerical reasoning tests.

If you’re applying for an analyst or financial role, you’ll be asked to take a numerical reasoning test . This assesses your data interpretation and analytical skills , based on venn diagrams, data sufficiency and sequences. It will have multiple-choice questions and a set amount of time to answer them.

To prepare for a numerical reasoning test, you should research the test provider (like SHL or TalentQ — you can ask the company which one they use). You can then take practice questions and work on your strengths and weaknesses.

With some dedication and extra tips on how to best prepare for the test , you should be able to pass with a high score.

Novartis Excel case study

Following the numerical reasoning test, there will be an Excel case study based on the role in question. This is a chance for Novartis to assess both your ability to fulfil the role’s specific tasks and your knowledge of Excel.

The test will take into account both your decision-making capability and your ability to work with information such as profit calculations and datasets.

Preparing for Microsoft Excel Tests may help you understand how to work with the case study. The most important thing is to know how to read an Excel document and extract the relevant data.

Video and phone interviews

Candidates may be required to take one or more Skype or phone interviews. These interviews are different from the first pre-screening, as the interviewer will go into more details about your skills and your interest in joining Novartis.

Research the company and think about how your previous experiences will translate into the context of the role. It might be helpful to note something down and keep it on the side while doing the interview.

Novartis assessment centre

The Novartis Assessment Centre is a great way to get a feel for the company and see if it’s the right fit for you. The assessment center consists of several rounds of interviews, group exercises and written assessments. The process is tough but it gives you a good sense of what it’s like to work at Novartis.

Candidates who are able to impress during the assessment center will have a strong chance of being offered a job with the company. This is because the Novartis assessment center provides employers with a comprehensive overview of a candidate’s skills and abilities.

Novartis group exercise

You may be invited to take part in a variety of group exercises during the assessment centre. The purpose of group exercises is to assess how well you work within a team. Effective communication, listening skills and teamwork are key skills to focus on demonstrating during these types of tasks.

Novartis presentation

You may be asked to prepare a presentation to give to the group of peers being interviewed with you. It is important when giving the presentation to provide information in a clear, concise and confident manner and demonstrate subject knowledge in whatever topic you are provided with.

Written assessment

The written assessment will help recruiters assess a candidate’s writing ability, comprehension and attention to detail – important qualities every potential employee should have.

To ensure you ace the written assessment portion of the test you should read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people try to wing it. If the instructions say to answer in essay form, don’t submit a list of bullet points. Likewise, if they say to keep your answer under 500 words, don’t go over. Not following directions is a surefire way to make a bad impression.

Planning your answer before you start writing can also help with structure and ensure you cover what’s necessary.

Novartis technical Interview

If you’re interviewing for a technical role at Novartis, chances are you’ll be asked questions about your skills and experience in specific programming languages and software platforms. It can be useful to sharpen your skills and knowledge by practicing test questions for specific tools.

Novartis face-to-face interview

The last stage of the Novartis hiring process is a face-to-face interview. This will be a formal setting in which you will most likely meet your future manager and team.

It could be a one-to-one interview or you might be in a room with stakeholders and different managers, depending on the level of the job.

During the interview, you will be asked behavioural-type questions to reveal your personality and work attitude. To prepare, you can use the STAR-questions method — think about past experiences and tough situations you had to handle.

Then, reflect on how these skills can help you deal with your day-to-day tasks. You can also research Novartis’ policies and ethics, to make sure your actions match the company’s culture.

Prepare yourself for leading employers

Practice Aptitude Tests is not associated with Novartis. We provide preparation services for Novartis psychometric tests. Our tests are not designed to be identical to any style, employer or industry. Visit https://www.novartis.co.uk/careers to find out more.

Sample Novartis Tests question Test your knowledge!

The pharmacokinetics section of a drug's label reads: 'After intravenous administration, the volume of distribution (Vd) is 20 liters, and the clearance (Cl) is 1 liter per hour.' Calculate the half-life of the drug using the formula t1/2 = 0.693 × (Vd/Cl).

• 13.86 hours
• 0.693 hours

A medication dosage label reads as follows: 'Administer 50mg of Medicorin per kilogram of the patient's body weight'. If a patient weighs 70 kilograms, how many milligrams of Medicorin should they receive?

In a report discussing drug interactions, one sentence reads as follows: 'Compound A inhibits the breakdown of Compound C, leading to a decreased plasma concentration of Compound B.' Identify the inconsistency in the sentence.

• Inhibition of Compound C should increase the concentration of Compound B
• Compound A should not interact with Compound C
• There is no inconsistency; the sentence is correct
• The sentence should refer to the increased plasma concentration of Compound C instead

A clinical trial report states that 15% of participants experienced side effects from a new medication. If there were 1200 participants in the trial, how many reported side effects?

In a document regarding pharmaceutical regulations, there is a list of active ingredients approved for use. One ingredient is listed as 'Methyprednisolone'. Identify the error in this listed ingredient.

• The correct spelling should be 'Methylprednisolone'
• The ingredient should be spelled 'Methyprednisolene'
• There is no error; the name is correct
• The error is not in the name but in the listing itself

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Novartis Tests Tips

1 understand the job role.

Take a moment to reflect on the job you’re applying for within Novartis and the skills it requires. This can help you to focus your preparation on the relevant areas.

2 Familiarize Yourself with the Test Format

Every test has its unique structure. By familiarizing yourself with the types of questions you’ll encounter, you can reduce test day anxiety.

3 Practice Time Management

These tests often have a time limit. Practicing under timed conditions can help you pace yourself and improve your time management skills.

4 Take Advantage of Free Practice Tests

At Practice Aptitude Tests, you can give practice tests of these types for free, which can be an invaluable resource in your preparation.

5 Review and Learn from Mistakes

Reflect on your practice test results, especially any errors you make. Understand where you went wrong and how you can improve.

Prepare for your Novartis Test

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• 30 Verbal reasoning tests
• 30 Diagrammatic reasoning tests
• 30 Situational judgement tests
• 34 Publisher packages e.g. Watson Glaser
• 252 Employer packages e.g. HSBC
• 99 Extra packages e.g Mechanical
• Dashboard performance tracking
• Full solutions and explanations
• Tips, tricks, guides and resources
• Access to free tests
• Basic performance tracking
• Solutions & explanations
• Tips and resources

Novartis Tests FAQs

What are the novartis tests.

The Novartis tests are a series of assessments designed to evaluate a wide range of skills pertinent to job roles at Novartis. This may include reasoning capabilities, comprehension of industry-specific knowledge, and situational judgement tests aligned with their business.

Are the Novartis tests hard?

Like many assessments for large companies, the Novartis tests can be challenging as they aim to ensure candidates meet the high standards expected in the pharmaceutical industry. However, with adequate preparation, they become more manageable.

How do I prepare for Novartis tests?

Preparing for Novartis tests is all about practice. Utilize Practice Aptitude Tests to access a variety of practice exams tailored to replicate the actual tests. Consistent practice will increase your familiarity and confidence with the questions you’ll encounter.

How long does the recruitment process take at Novartis?

The recruitment process length at Novartis can vary, but it’s designed to be thorough. From initial application to final interviews, candidates should be prepared for an extensive process that could take several weeks to a few months.

What are Novartis's core values?

Novartis’s core values encompass innovation, quality, collaboration, performance, courage, and integrity. These values guide their work and the kind of professionals they seek to join their team.

Reviews of our Novartis tests

What our customers say about our Novartis tests

Chukwuedozie uyaelu

February 03, 2022

It was good

It forces one to be focused, avoid distraction and look critically into what the question really requires to do well on the question.

Ikediashi Emmanuel Ifeanyi

May 26, 2021

Straightforward questions and tricky at the same time

Julius Affon

The questions are technical and well asked

April 08, 2021

Interesting

It got me thinking back to basic aptitude test that I haven't practiced in a while

Chennupatiprasanna lakshmi

February 18, 2021

Caluculations

I liked the graphs and the table questions are difficult.

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Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care

Don’t leave teaming up to chance. Create better teamwork through science.

In this course, experts from Harvard Business School and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health teach learners to implement a strategy for organizational teamwork in health care.

What You'll Learn

Health care is a team effort. From the front desk administrators to the nurses, doctors, insurers, and even the patients and their families, there are many people involved in an individual’s care. To deliver quality care in today’s fast-paced environment, practitioners and caregivers must go beyond medical problem-solving and rely on effective collaboration and communication skills.

While other businesses may organize around a functional area or project, allowing team members to learn each other's working styles and strengths over time, health care workers often find themselves in ad hoc scenarios, coordinating with near-strangers on life and death situations. As a leader, how do you encourage trust and meet shared goals when teams are formed quickly? How do you strengthen flexibility and collaboration even as team membership and structures fluctuate across departments? 

In Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care, leaders in the field of organizational behavior and teamwork, Amy Edmondson, Professor at Harvard Business School, and Michaela Kerrissey, Assistant Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, share their latest research and present their concept of "teaming" as it relates to the health care and life science industries.

In this course, you will explore the complexities of collaboration in dynamic cross-functional teams and its impact on quality of care. You will examine the theory of teaming – where individuals join together to lend their expertise – to appreciate what enables effective teamwork and why teamwork fails; articulate the importance of psychological safety and a joint problem-solving orientation; understand the particular needs of time-limited teams; and rethink the role of hierarchy and leadership in the context of teaming.

You’ll hear firsthand from experts with experience inside and outside the health care industry, from CEO and President of the Cleveland Clinic, Tomislav Mihaljevic, to Andres Sougarret, the engineer who led the miraculous rescue of 33 Chilean miners in 2011. 

Ultimately, this course provides you with the tools needed to implement effective teaming strategies for patient-centered care and provides your organization with a framework to empower robust communication, improve efficiency, and elevate patient safety.

The course will be delivered via  HBS Online’s course platform  and immerse learners in real-world examples from experts at industry-leading organizations. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explore the science of teamwork, focusing on the psychological and sociological aspects of teaming, collaboration, and defining effective outcomes.
• Understand the complexity of building trust in ad hoc teams, including how to define purpose, build trust, and navigate interpersonal risks to reach common goals.
• Apply communication strategies that encourage psychological safety and create a safe space for all to contribute.
• Understand the value in adopting a model of joint problem-solving for patient care.
• Identify the distinct needs of time-limited project teams and how to incorporate effective and transparent feedback loops.
• Ensure accountability and identify leaders, breaking down hierarchy and encouraging the right person to step up at the right time.
• Implement a PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, and Act) framework for your organization.

Continuing Education Credits

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education.

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Harvard Medical School is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity is approved for 20.00 contact hours. Contact hours are awarded commensurate with participation and completion of the online evaluation and attendance attestation. We suggest claiming your hours within 30 days of the activity date, after this time, the attendance attestation will still be required to claim your hours. 

Groups of 10 or more receive Amy Edmondson's latest book!

A free, hard copy of right kind of wrong: the science of failing well for each participant. .

Your Instructors

Amy C. Edmondson  is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. She has pioneered the concept of psychological safety for over 20 years and was recognized in 2021 as #1 on the Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers. 

She is the author of Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy (2012), The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth (2018), and Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well (2023).

Michaela Kerrissey  is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She conducts research on how teams and organizations innovate, integrate, and perform, with a focus on health care.   Dr. Kerrissey has authored over 30 publications on these topics and has won numerous best-paper awards, such as from the Academy of Management. She designed the Management Science for a New Era course at Harvard’s School of Public Health. In 2023, she was listed on Thinkers50 Radar, a global listing of top management thinkers.

Real World Case Studies

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD

Learn from the President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic about how to implement joint problem solving in complex care organizations.

Maya Rupert

Hear from a top political strategist and campaign manager about how she leads within a teaming structure.

Trishan Panch, MD, MPH

Learn from Harvard faculty and founder of Wellframe about the importance of team learning.

Available Discounts and Benefits for Groups and Individuals

Experience Harvard Online by utilizing our wide variety of discount programs for individuals and groups. 

Past participant discounts.

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program hosted on the HBS Online platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course, regardless of completion or certificate status in the first purchased program. Past Participant Discounts are automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.  Learn more here .

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the  edX platform  are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course using a discount code. Discounts are not available after you've submitted payment, so if you think you are eligible for a discount on a registration, please check your email for a code or contact us .

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

For this course we offer a 30% discount for learners who work in the nonprofit, government, military, or education fields. 

Eligibility is determined by a prospective learner’s email address, ending in .org, .gov, .mil, or .edu. Interested learners can apply below for the discount and, if eligible, will receive a promo code to enter when completing payment information to enroll in a Harvard Online program. Click here to apply for these discounts.

Gather your team to experience Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care and other Harvard Online courses to enjoy the benefits of learning together: 

• Single invoicing for groups of 10 or more
• Tiered discounts and pricing available with up to 50% off
• Growth reports on your team's progress
• Flexible course and partnership plans 

Learn more and enroll your team ! 

Course Syllabus

Learning requirements: There are no prerequisites required to enroll in this course. In order to earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online and Harvard Business School Online, participants must thoughtfully complete all 5 modules, including satisfactory completion of the associated assignments, by stated deadlines.

Download Full Syllabus

• Study the Mining Accident Rescue and Cleveland Clinic cases.
• Understand the concept of teaming and how it can be applied to the health care industry.
• Brainstorm how to organize with a team to rescue 33 trapped miners.
• Analyze the problems solved and new challenges created by organizational structures that were implemented to facilitate teamwork at the Cleveland Clinic.
• Outline and analyze an individualized teaming breakdown for your organization. 
• Study the NASA and Google cases on psychological safety.
• Collaborate with team members and leadership to create a space of psychological safety. 
• Identify the indicators of psychological safety in a group. Analyze data from Project Aristotle’s study of teams at Google.
• Consider how past experiences can affect current feelings of psychological safety.
• Study the Cleveland Clinic ,  Boehringer Ingelheim , and  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center cases.
• Implement a joint problem-solving orientation in which team members view problems as shared and solutions as requiring collaboration.
• Match different types of diversity in the workplace with the interpersonal boundaries that they imply.
• Articulate what you bring to a team and what you might need from others.
• Walk down the ladder of inference to get to the root of a problem.
• Study the  Virginia Mason Medical Center and  Institute for Healthcare Improvement cases.
• Cultivate an organization where team learning is valued and mobilized for improved performance.  
• Identify different kinds of work on the process knowledge spectrum.
• Brainstorm how a nursing team could learn from an accidental morphine overdose.
• Study the cases of Julio Castro's Presidential Campaign and Wellframe . 
• Practice leadership skills that include coaching, enabling, and ensuring that the right voices are present or represented within the team structure. 
• Build a leadership workshop for your team using the concepts addressed in this course.
• Practice asking meaningful questions as a way to encourage input and express authentic humility.
• Learn the difference between confirmatory and exploratory responses.

Earn Your Certificate

Enroll today in this course.

Still Have Questions?

What are the learning requirements? How do I list my certificate on my resume? Learn the answers to these and more in our FAQs.

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