BASEL, Switzerland—Pharmaceuticals and Alcon results were strong in the first quarter as Novartis International AG [NYSE:NVS] reflected in the group’s financial results.

The group’s net sales were $13.7 billion, a decline of 2 percent from the first quarter of 2011, while the company reported core operating income of $3.7 billion and core net income of $3.1 billion, or an 8 percent decline, from the prior year period. Group net income declined 18 percent to $2.3 billion following the decline in operating income.

Commenting on the results, Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, said, "Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Alcon divisions delivered strong growth and operating leverage in the first quarter. Group net sales performance was impacted by Sandoz, which was up against a strong year-ago base with enoxaparin exclusivity, and by Consumer Health, which was impacted by the suspension of production at the Lincoln, Neb. manufacturing site. We are making progress remediating the quality issues at the Lincoln site, as well as the three Sandoz production sites. Importantly, we had excellent pipeline news, including strong Phase III results on QVA149 in COPD. We are pleased with the outcome of the safety review on Gilenya and expect to see continued strong sales growth."

Alcon net sales of $2.5 billion rose 5 percent, led by strong growth in surgical of 9 percent. Ophthalmic pharmaceuticals sales grew 5 percent while while Alcon’s Vision Care business grew by 1 percent. The company noted that growth versus the prior year “was dampened slightly by the inclusion in 2011 of certain lens care products divested at the end of the first quarter last year.”

Alcon increased core operating income by 7 percent to $902 million for the period. Constant currency core operating margin increased by 0.6 percentage points from strong operating leverage through productivity gains and the realization of post-integration synergies while continuing to invest in emerging markets and R&D, the company said.

The company’s full results are posted on its website.