Investors were caught off guard by a decision on the research and development front.By most standards shares of drugmaker Novartis (NVS -4.28%) should be higher following this morning's release of its second-quarter results. The drugmaker's top and bottom lines were both better than expected, and up from year-earlier comparisons. And profit guidance for the remainder of the year was encouraging, lifted from its previously announced expectations.And yet, Novartis stock is down 4.5% as of 1:55 p.m. ET Thursda ...