Novartis/Chiron: Validating the Value of Vaccine R&D

Nothing solidifies the emergence of a hot investment sector like a big investment of cash, and Novartis AG provided that with its two-stage $5.7 billion close out of the remaining shares of Chiron Corp. that it did not already own (W#200510159). Novartis bought $300 million worth of Chiron's stock in December 2005 and then closed out the deal with $5.4 billion in April 2006.