Privacy

Revised as of December 19, 2014

Who we are

Thank you for your trust in Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Novartis), and for taking the time to read our Privacy Statement. We are a United States-based affiliate of the Novartis global group, a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, vaccines and diagnostics. This Privacy Statement explains how Novartis Pharmaceuticals uses and discloses the information we collect from you through the Clinical Trials eRecruitment website, located at trials.novartis.com (the “Website”), and the choices you have about how we use that information.

What information do we collect from you through this website?

Information You Provide: We collect any information that you voluntarily provide when you use this Website, such as when you register for a Novartis Pharmaceuticals program or service or to determine your potential eligibility for a clinical trial. The information that you provide may include your first and last name, your mailing address, zip code, your age, birth date, gender, e-mail address, other contact information and information about your medical conditions. If you submit personal information relating to other people to us or to our service providers in connection with the Services, you represent that you have the authority to do so and to permit us to use the information in accordance with this Privacy Statement.

Information Automatically Collected From You: We and our service providers may use “cookies” – small text files saved on your computer or mobile device by our servicers – or similar tracking technologies to over time automatically collect and store information about your usage of this Website and third-party websites, such as your Internet Protocol address, your web browser type, the webpages you access through this Website, the type of device you use to access this Website, and the search terms you enter. These technologies allow us to generate statistics about what content our users access and how our users navigate through this Website, and to recognize you and personalize your experiences when using this Website.

If you do not want us to save cookies on your computer, you can set your browser’s cookie preferences to reject cookies from the Services. Each browser is different, so you should check your browser’s “Help” menu to learn how to change your cookie preferences. If you reject or block cookies, however, the Services may not function as intended.

How do we use your information?

When you provide information to us through this Website, such as when you register for a Novartis Pharmaceuticals program or service, we will use the information we collect from your through this Website to deliver the programs, services, or products you request, such as to determine your potential eligibility for a clinical trial. We may also use that information for the following purposes:

To generate and analyze statistics about your access to and use of this Website;
To provide you with information about Novartis Pharmaceuticals products, programs, or services, any of your accounts, and required notices;
to better tailor the content offered through the Services to users’ interests;
To help us, our subsidiaries and affiliates within the Novartis global group, and our business partners better understand our audiences, evaluate user interest in the Services, improve the Services, and perform other market research activities;
To customize your experience when using the Services, such as by providing interactive or personalized elements and content based on your interests;
As we believe to be necessary or appropriate: (a) under applicable law, including laws outside your country of residence; (b) to comply with legal process; (c) to respond to requests from public and government authorities, including public and government authorities outside your country of residence; (d) to enforce our terms and conditions; (e) to protect our operations or those of any of our affiliates; (f) to protect our rights, privacy, safety or property, and/or that of our affiliates, you or others; and (g) to allow us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain.

When and to whom do we disclose your information?

We may disclose the information you provide and the information automatically collected from or about you through this Website:

to our subsidiaries and affiliates within the Novartis global group, for the purposes described in this Privacy Statement;
to clinical trial investigators or their staff
to outside vendors, professional advisors, and companies that provide products and services, those that fulfill requests for information, answer telephone calls, or to administer specific programs or projects.
as required by law, such as to law enforcement, to health authorities to report possible adverse events, during government inspections or audits, as ordered or directed by courts or other governmental agencies, or in order to comply with a subpoena or other legal process;
when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect legal rights or the security or integrity of the Services; protect your safety or the safety of others; investigate fraud, a breach of contract, or a violation of law; or respond to a government request; and
to third parties, advisors, and other entities to the extent reasonably necessary for development of or to proceed with the negotiation or completion of a corporate or commercial transaction, including a reorganization, merger, acquisition, joint venture, sale or other disposition of all or a portion of our business, assets, or stock (including in connection with any bankruptcy or similar proceedings)

Security of your information

We use appropriate technical, administrative and physical safeguards to protect the information collected through this Website. Unfortunately, no organization can guarantee the absolute security of information, especially information transmitted over the internet. Accordingly, we also caution you to safeguard your own computer or mobile device and password against unauthorized access by others. We are not responsible for any information disclosed as a result of such unauthorized access, such as if your computer or mobile device is lost or stolen.

Safe Harbor Certifications

Novartis has voluntarily certified to the U.S.–EU Safe Harbor Framework and the U.S.–Swiss Safe Harbor Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the transfer of personal information from European Union member countries and Switzerland to the United States. For more information, please visit our Safe Harbor Privacy Statement

Binding Corporate Rules

Novartis Pharmaceuticals has adopted Binding Corporate Rules, a system of principles, rules and tools based on European privacy laws, in an effort to ensure effective data protection for personal information that is transferred from Novartis global group companies located in the European Economic Area and Switzerland to recipients located outside those areas. Read more about your rights under Novartis Binding Corporate Rules.

Children’s information

Novartis Pharmaceuticals will not knowingly collect personal information online from a child under the age of 13, without obtaining prior consent from a person with parental responsibility (parent or guardian), other than to respond directly to inform the child that we must have parental consent before collecting personal information..

Updating and accessing your information

We encourage you to update the personal information you provide to us, such as by providing us with a new mailing or e-mail address, a name change, or a change in the medical conditions that you have notified us about. This will help us continue to provide information to you that best meets your needs. For your protection, we may only implement requests with respect to the personal information associated with the particular email address that you use to send us your request, and we may need to verify your identity before implementing your request.

You may be able to access and update this information through the member or account section of the Service for which you registered, or you can contact us by visiting http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/util/contact.shtml, writing to us at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 1 Health Plaza, East Hanover, New Jersey, 07936 attention Privacy Office, or calling us at 1-888-NOW-NOVA (1-888-669-6682).

Links to third party websites

This website may contain links or other references to websites published by third parties, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals is not responsible for the collection and use of your information by such websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each website you visit to learn how they collect, use, disclose, and protect your information.

Texas residents

Pursuant to the Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 181.154, please be advised that if Novartis Pharmaceuticals receives any information that identifies you and relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health, healthcare or payment for your healthcare, such information may be subject to electronic disclosure by such means as file transfers or email.

Changes to this privacy statement

This Privacy Statement became effective on January 9, 2015. We may update this Statement from time to time by posting a new Privacy Statement on our website. We encourage you to consult this Website regularly for any changes, and your continued use of this Website after such changes have been made constitutes acceptance of those changes.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about our Privacy Statement, please click here or write to us at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 1 Health Plaza, East Hanover, New Jersey, 07936, or call us at 1-888-NOW-NOVA.