Novartis completes sale of influenza business to CSL

Novartis has announced the completion of its previously-announced move to sell off its influenza vaccines business to CSL.

Completed on July 31st 2015, the deal includes Novartis' entire influenza vaccines development pipeline and marks the end of a series of transactions aimed at refining the company's strategic focus.

Following the finalisation of this transaction, the company will concentrate on its three leading businesses of global scale – pharmaceuticals, generics (through its Sandoz division) and eye care (via the Alcon business unit).

The former Novartis influenza vaccines unit has delivered almost one billion doses of seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines globally over the last 30 years. CSL purchased the division to strengthen its own capabilities in this field.

Novartis previously sold off the non-influenza segments of its vaccines division to GlaxoSmithKline, a deal that also saw Novartis purchase GlaxoSmithKline's oncology business and agree to form a new consumer healthcare joint venture.