Novartis

2014 sales: $1.54 billion

Novartis ($NVS) stepped back from vaccines this year, trading away the bulk of its vaccines portfolio for GlaxoSmithKline's ($GSK) oncology unit and sealing its exit from the vaccine space by finalizing the sale of its flu vaccines unit to CSL.

The Swiss pharma pulled in $1.36 billion in 2014 sales, just over 10% down from the $1.54 billion it made the year before. But bear in mind that the numbers don't reflect the pair of divestitures; both deals closed earlier this year.

For Novartis, the asset swap with GSK was nothing but good news. Its vaccines unit, formed in 2006 from the company's buyout of Chiron, posted a $525 million operating loss in 2014.

"We believe the divestment of our smaller vaccines and animal health divisions will enable us to realize immediate value from these businesses for our shareholders, and those divisions will benefit from being part of large, global businesses that are also leaders in their segments," Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez said in a statement last April. "Looking ahead, this positions Novartis well for future healthcare industry dynamics."

--Amirah Al Idrus

Special Report: Pharma's top 10 M&A deals of 2014 - GlaxoSmithKline Oncology/Novartis vaccines (excluding flu)

For more:
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U.K. health secretary: Novartis holding government to 'ransom' with Bexsero pricing
Novartis officially bows out of vaccines with flu sale to CSL
Novartis' soon-to-be-Glaxo's vaccine unit sees mounting losses, diving sales in Q2
Novartis bids farewell to vaccines with $7.1B sale to GSK