1Novartis , Switzerland

Market cap : US $ 247.36 billion

Novartis is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide .

Created in 1996 through a merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz , Novartis and its predecessor companies trace roots back more than 250 years , with a rich history of developing innovative products . From beginnings in the production of synthetic fabric dyes , the companies that eventually became Novartis branched out into producing chemicals and ultimately pharmaceuticals .