Alcon teams up with Venus Williams, tennis champion and dry eye sufferer, to launch Systane^® Complete eye drops

• The new product joins the #1 doctor recommended Systane family of dry eye drops as the brand’s most advanced solution to date
• Alcon launches multimedia campaign to reach the 30 million people living with dry eye in the US¹
• Venus Williams shares her powerful story of finding real relief from dry eye symptoms

Fort Worth, Texas, May 17, 2018 – Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, is launching its newest lubricant eye drop, Systane Complete, with the help of professional tennis superstar, Venus Williams. She will speak about her experience with dry eye and how the new Alcon eye drop helps her find real relief, allowing her to perform at her best on and off the court. These efforts are part of an educational campaign Alcon is launching to reach those who suffer from dry eye.

“I spent years not understanding my dry eye symptoms and going through several different eye drops to find a solution,” said Williams. “Systane Complete is a total game changer for me, and that’s why I’m so passionate about working with Alcon to help others understand their symptoms and find real relief. Systane Complete provides me with long-lasting, fast relief for my dry eye symptoms, allowing me to conquer my day both on and off the court.”

Systane Complete, a new formula designed to provide relief for every major type of dry eye, is an ideal first-line treatment option for people who suffer from evaporative dry eye, aqueous tear deficient dry eye or mixed dry eye. It uses intelligent moisture and lipid delivery to enhance delivery of the active ingredient across the surface of the eye and stabilize the tear film. Its advanced nano-droplet technology allows for fast-acting hydration, tear evaporation protection and long-lasting relief.

In addition to welcoming Williams to the Systane family, Alcon will continue its collaboration with mountain climber Lisa Thompson as she moves from her existing dry eye treatment, Systane Ultra, to the new Systane Complete. Thompson began working with Alcon in 2017 as she prepared to climb the K2 mountain near China. She will begin her expedition this summer and chronicle her experience with the help of Systane Complete.

As part of the campaign, these powerful athletes will share their experiences through multimedia assets, a website and a TV commercial to help dry eye sufferers avoid the distractions of dry eye.

“We are thrilled to have a powerful and authentic voice like Venus Williams to help drive awareness around an issue that can be debilitating and an inconvenience for millions around the country,” said Sergio Duplan, North America Region President, Alcon. “Systane Complete is another revolutionary advancement from Alcon, helping support our mission to improve lives through eye care. We’re proud to offer an over-the-counter option that delivers real relief from dry eye symptoms.”

Systane Complete joins the full line of Systane lubricant eye drops, including Systane Ultra and Systane Balance. Systane Complete is currently available in select retail locations and e-commerce sites. Dry eye sufferers can now try Systane Complete in their optometrist's or ophthalmologist's office. It is expected to be available for over-the-counter purchase nationwide by June 2018.

To learn more about Systane Complete and the full line of eye drops, visit www.systane.com or follow the brand on Facebook.

About dry eye²
Dry eye occurs when the quantity and/or quality of tears fails to keep the surface of the eye adequately lubricated. Dry eye causes a scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye. Other symptoms include stinging or burning, episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of dryness, discharge, pain and redness in the eye. People with dry eye may also feel as if their eyelids are heavy and may experience blurred vision. The risk of developing dry eye increases with advancing age.

About the Systane family of products
Systane lubricant eye drops have been clinically proven to reduce the symptoms of dry eye, providing immediate, long-lasting protection and comfort. The Systane brand is the best-selling dry eye franchise in artificial tear solutions and is the #1 doctor-recommended brand. Systane Complete is indicated as a first-line treatment option for people who suffer from evaporative dry eye, aqueous tear-deficient dry eye or mixed dry eye. While Systane Ultra is designed for dry eye with aqueous deficient patients, Systane Balance lubricant eye drops are designed specifically for patients with dry eye associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential launches, availability, new indications or labeling for the products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the products described in this press release will be available for sale or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including pricing pressures; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general political and economic conditions; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Alcon
Alcon is the global leader in eye care. As a division of Novartis, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our products touch the lives of more than 260 million people each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors, and there are millions more who are waiting for solutions to meet their eye care needs. Our purpose is reimagining eye care, and we do this through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that enhance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.

Alcon is on Facebook. Like us at www.facebook.com/AlconEyeCare

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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References

^1. American Academy of Ophthalmology^®. Eye Health Statistics. Available at: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/eye-health-statistics. Accessed April 12, 2018.
^2. National Eye Institute (NEI). Facts About Dry Eye. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye. Access April 24, 2018.

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