Business

Swiss drug maker Novartis said yesterday its China sales rose 29 percent boosted by its patent drugs and indicated that it would launch six new drugs in the domestic market this year.

Sales rose to 3.3 billion yuan (US$428.13 million) in 2008 and expects it will register a 30 percent growth this year, senior company executives said.

Despite the financial crisis, “our performance in 2008 is the best in recent years”, said Jeffrey Li, chief executive officer, Novartis China.

The drug maker is targeting a global sales growth of 5 percent this year.

China sales accounted for about 1 percent of Novartis’ sales globally, Li said.

The company has so far invested 2.26 billion yuan. It plans to invest more this year in setting up infrastructure, research and development (R