Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicines segment offers patented prescription medicines for patients and healthcare providers. It also provides ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hepatology and dermatology, respiratory, cardio-metabolic, and established medicine products. The company's Sandoz segment provides active ingredients and finished dosage forms of pharmaceuticals in cardiovascular, central nervous system, dermatology, gastrointestinal and hormonal therapy, metabolism, oncology, ophthalmic, pain, and respiratory areas; and finished dosage form anti-infective. It also provides active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates primarily antibiotics; protein- or other biotechnology-based products, including biosimilars; and biotechnology manufacturing services. The company's Alcon segment offers intraocular lenses and equipment for cataract procedures; equipment, instruments, and devices for vitreoretinal surgeries; surgical equipment and diagnostic devices for refractive surgical procedures; and devices to treat glaucoma. It also provides viscoelastics, surgical solutions, diagnostic ophthalmic products, surgical packs, and other disposable products for cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. In addition, this segment offers contact lenses and ocular health products; over-the-counter ophthalmic products; eye drops for the temporary relief of ocular itching due to allergies; vitamins for ocular health; and iLux Device, a therapeutic device used to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. Novartis AG has collaboration agreements with Xencor; Surface Oncology; Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Amgen; University of California, Berkeley; Bristol-Myers Squibb; IBM Watson Health; Allergan plc; Science 37, Inc.; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; PEAR Therapeutics; Pfizer; and Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.