Novartis AG (NVS)

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to your body. Your blood carries the oxygen and nutrients that your organs need to work well. Blood also carries carbon dioxide (a waste product) to your lungs so you can breathe it out.

Heart failure is when the heart can't keep up with its workload.

Chronic heart failure is a progressive, debilitating disease where the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body. Symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and fluid retention can appear slowly and worsen over time, significantly impacting quality of life.

Heart failure is a significant and growing public health concern with more 20 million people living with the disease across Europe and the US alone. It continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality, frequent hospitalization and poor quality of life, despite currently available medicines.

NVS reported that the Data Monitoring Committee unanimously recommended early closure of the PARADIGM-HF study, indicating patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who received NVS ' LCZ696 lived longer without being hospitalized for heart failure than those who received standard care with ACE-inhibitor enalapril.

Based on the compelling efficacy and primary endpoint having been met, the trial will now close early.

The results of the PARADIGM-HF trial will be submitted to a major medical conference for presentation and NVS will now initiate discussions with global health authorities regarding approval for marketing.

NVS' LCZ696, a twice a day pill for heart failure, is a first in class medicine that acts in multiple ways on the neurohormonal systems of the heart, blocking receptors exerting harmful effects while simultaneously promoting protective mechanisms. Known as an ARNI (Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor) LCZ696 is thought to reduce the strain on the failing heart, promoting the ability of the heart muscle to recover.

NVS provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies.

More about Novartis AG (NVS) at www.novartis.com .

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Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE)

CRWE provides marketing solutions that boost customer awareness and merchant visibility on the Internet.

CRWE is currently developing its CRWE Network ( CRWE-PR.com ), a community targeted publications of websites.

Update: The CRWE Network, which business model is based on selling advertising to local businesses, has reached the 293th community website in the U.S., associated with 1482 ZIP Codes , and includes coverage of the greater state of California, Northern and Southern Nevada, Wellington in Florida and 9 provinces in Canada

CRWE 's community targeted publications of websites will offer businesses' owners the power of developing and publishing their own advertisement through the use of the CRWE Network’s platform to entice potential nearby consumers within its community with offers and deals. Advertisement on a national level is presently operational with local advertisement/coupon being available soon.

More about Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE) at www.crownequityholdings.com

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China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS)

Keep a close eye on CAAS . The company reported strong performance on its financial results.

For the fourth quarter 2013, CAAS posted fourth-quarter record net sales of $129.2 million, a 27.3% increase year over year, gross profit of $22.4 million, a 30.2% increase compared to the same period the prior year, net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $7.2 million, compared to $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

According to its business outlook, CAAS ' revenue growth rate target is 15% year-over-year growth for the full year 2014.

CAAS is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through eight Sino-foreign joint ventures.

More about China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) at www.caasauto.com .

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