novartis international ag communication ch 4002 basel switzerland tel 41 61 324 2200 fax 3300 internet http www com media release communique aux medias medienmitteilung sales reach chf 24 2 billion in the first nine months of 1999 growth sustained despite difficult agribusiness market and high baseline effect pharmaceuticals positive results for key compounds late stage development 21 october group from continuing businesses reached a increase 1 local currencies or swiss francs healthcare 4 over generics ciba vision accelerated third quarter while it was expectedly below exceptional performance same period last year consumer health 8 again posted dynamic animal seeds picked up helping to steady 7 amid adverse conditions published several important pharmaceutical clinical approval filings starlix diabetes are targeted fourth those zelmac irritable
