SANDOZ INC. LAUNCHES AB-RATED LEVOTHYROXINE

Sandoz Inc., a Novartis company and one of the leading generic pharmaceutical companies in the world, announced today it began commercially shipping its version of generic Levothyroxine sodium tablets. On June 23, 2004, the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) approved the Sandoz Levothyroxine Sodium tablets as AB-rated (bioequivalent) to both Synthroid® and Levoxyl®. The Sandoz product is now shipping to all classes of trade, including retail chain drugstores, wholesalers and distributors, and managed care customers.