Novartis has signed an agreement to purchase Myricx Bio, a UK-based biotechnology company, in a transaction valued at up to $1.5bn. <\/p>\n
The deal includes an upfront payment of $1.1bn and up to $400m in potential milestone payments. <\/p>\n
It is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. <\/p>\n
Myricx Bio is developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that target cancer cells using N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor (NMTi) payloads. <\/p>\n
These next-generation payloads are designed to address limitations of commonly used ADC payload classes such as topoisomerase 1 (TOPO-1) inhibitors. <\/p>\n
The company’s pipeline includes two lead candidates directed at the tumour-associated targets B7 homologue 3 (B7-H3) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), indicating potential application across various solid tumour types. <\/p>\n
Novartis biomedical research president Fiona Marshall said: “ADCs have become an important part of cancer treatment, but there remains a clear need for new payload mechanisms to overcome resistance and expand their impact for patients. <\/p>\n
“Myricx Bio has developed a promising NMTi payload platform with a differentiated mechanism that could broaden the use of ADCs across multiple tumour settings. <\/p>\n
“This proposed acquisition reflects our strategy to scale innovative platforms, as we have with radioligand therapies, to deliver more durable, transformative treatments for patients.” <\/p>\n
Based on preclinical data, the NMTi payloads may display broad activity across solid tumours, including those resistant to existing therapies such as TOPO-1 inhibitors. <\/p>\n
The agreement would enable Novartis to assist in establishing NMTi, pending clinical validation, as a new class of ADC payloads that could be used for a variety of targets and platforms. <\/p>\n
Prior to this, the European Commission granted approval<\/a> for Novartis’ Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) as a treatment for children two years and older, teenagers and adults who have 5q spinal muscular atrophy with a bi-allelic mutation in the survival motor neuron 1 gene. <\/p>\n ADC content on Pharmaceutical Technology (or Clinical Trials Arena) is supported by Syngene. Editorial content is independently produced and follows the highest standards<\/a> of journalistic integrity. Topic sponsors are not involved in the creation of editorial content. <\/p>\n