UPDATE 2-Novartis considers Alcon spin-off, launches share buyback
January 25, 2017 at 02:44 AM EST
BASEL, Switzerland, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Novartis AG may spin off its struggling Alcon eye care business and is to launch a share buyback programme worth up to $5 billion, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday in reporting fourth-quarter results that lagged market expectations.