Novartis restated last year's figures due to divestments in the consumer health division earlier this year. Restated 1998 sales were 23.76 billion francs for the nine-month period, down 833 million francs from the nine-month 1998 figure of 24.59 billion francs originally reported.

Sales at the company's flagship drugs unit rose 4% to 11.47 billion francs, slightly higher than analysts had forecast. Expressed in local currencies, drug sales rose 2%.

The whole health-care division saw sales rise 5% to 13.99 billion francs. Agricultural sales fell 7% to 6.34 billion francs and the consumer health division's sales increased 7% to 3.59 billion francs. Novartis said for the full year it expects an increase in operating and net profit from last year's 6.1 billion francs and 8.74 billion francs, respectively.