In particular, our expectations could be affected by, among other things: uncertainties regarding the success of key products and commercial priorities; global trends toward healthcare cost-containment, including ongoing government, payer and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; uncertainties in the research and development of new healthcare products, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection, including the ultimate extent of the impact on Novartis of the loss of patent protection and exclusivity on key products that commenced in prior years and is expected to continue this year; the potential that the strategic benefits, operational efficiencies or opportunities expected from our recent transactions or our organizational, structural and cultural transformations may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; our performance on environmental, social and governance measures; uncertainties in the development or adoption of potentially transformational technologies and business models; uncertainties regarding potential significant breaches of information security or disruptions of our information technology systems; our reliance on outsourcing key business functions to third parties; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel and qualified individuals; uncertainties regarding actual or potential legal proceedings, including, among others, litigation and other legal disputes with respect to our recent transactions, product liability litigation, litigation and investigations regarding sales and marketing practices, intellectual property disputes and government investigations generally; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, including potential regulatory actions or delays with respect to the development of the products described in this Novartis in Society ESG Report; our ability to comply with data privacy laws and regulations, and uncertainties regarding potential significant breaches of data privacy; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-initiation and completion of our clinical trials in the future, and research and development timelines; uncertainties involved in predicting shareholder returns; uncertainties regarding the effects of recent and anticipated future changes in tax laws and their application to us; uncertainties regarding future global exchange rates; uncertainties regarding future demand for our products; and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.