BASEL, Switzerland— Novartis (NVS: NYSE) delivered solid sales growth with strong margin expansion and major innovation in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2014. Net sales grew 4 percent to $14.7 billion, or 5 percent in constant currencies, and operating income grew 14 percent, or 18 percent in constant currencies. Core operating income in third quarters grew 8 percent or 11 percent in constant currencies, growing faster than sales.

Novartis cited several factors that contributed to the positive results, including the European Union’s approval for Alcon’s Simbrinza glaucoma drug, and expansion in emerging growth markets such as China, Brazil and Russia.

Alcon’s net sales climbed to $2.7 billion in the third quarter, up 5 percent, or 6 percent in constant currencies. Alcon’s surgical business grew 8 percent or 10 percent in constant currencies as a result of strong equipment sales. Ophthalmic pharmaceuticals grew 3 pecent or 4 percent in constant currencies. Vision care grew 3 percent, or 4 percent in constant currencies, driven by strong growth of Dailies Total and AirOptix Colors, which offset a decline in contact lens care solutions, according to Novartis.

Alcon’s operating income increased 52 percent, or 59 percent in constant currencies to $381 million, driven by strong operating performance and the ending of integration charges in 2013. Operating income was impacted by the U.S. Healthcare Fee exceptional charge of $29 million.

Core operating income rose 10 percent, or 12 percent in constant currencies, to $960 million, driven by higher sales and lower functional costs resulting from productivity programs. Core operating income margin in constant currencies increased by 1.9 percentage points; currency had a negative impact of 0.3 percentage points, resulting in a net increase of 1.6 percentage points to 36.0 percent of net sales, Novartis reported.