Only a few NVS locations are involved in drug discovery per se (as opposed to such functions as toxicology and formulation), and the Cambridge, MA site does a large portion of the drug-discovery work for the entire company. The salient point here is that NVS is not employing a business model that relies heavily on outsourcing of basic research.
One of the points that Vasella made when Mark Fishman was hired was that NVS would fund research into rare genetic disorders. These diseases are rarely researched by other pharma because the markets were presumed too small. NVS' thinking is that the once a pathway is understood and an effective treatment developed that similar pathways may be shared by other poorly understood diseases.
A side benefit to this approach can be better patent protection afforded by orphan drug status. NVS has been successful finding broader application for a drug once it is developed as in the case of Gleevec use for GIST.
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