Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG has posted a 45 percent rise in net profit in the third quarter, boosted by strong sales of new products such as Gilenya for multiple sclerosis and the leukemia drug Tasigna. The Basel, Switzerland-based company's reported quarterly net profit was $3.24 billion, up from last year's equivalent of $2.23 billion, which was downwardly adjusted to conform to reporting requirements.