Novartis is making a multipronged push into China

Ever since China loosened its trade restrictions with the West, companies have jumped head-first into the Communist-run state, hoping to capitalize on selling products to the planet's most populous nation. Pharmaceutical companies have been no different, but at a somewhat more subdued rate because China's health-care system has been less developed.

Now, though, just when reform is looming for the U.S. health-care system, which could potentially slow pharmaceutical sales (at least in the short term), China is starting to push health care into growth mode. And Swiss-based Novartis (NVS) is one drugmaker that intends to capitalize on it.