Novartis Expands Cardiovascular Drug Deal with Argo Biopharma to $5.2B

Novartis has expanded its collaboration with Chinese biotech company Argo Biopharmaceutical through a new $5.2 billion deal focused on developing RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases. The agreement includes an upfront payment of $160 million to Argo and milestone payments potentially reaching billions more, with Novartis gaining options to license multiple discovery-stage and clinical-stage drug candidates for conditions such as severe hypertriglyceridemia and mixed dyslipidemia outside China. This deal builds on a previous partnership started last year and strengthens Novartis' position in RNAi technology, a field it has invested in through acquisitions like DTx Pharma. Argo, a rapidly growing company, uses siRNA therapeutics to target disease-causing proteins, representing a significant shift in cardiovascular disease treatment. Novartis officials highlighted the collaboration's potential to address unmet medical needs and enhance innovative treatment options. The partnership reflects a broader trend of major pharmaceutical companies engaging with China's biotech sector to accelerate drug development with cost efficiencies and regulatory flexibility.