Novartis, an innovative pharmaceutical firm, has announced an agreement to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company, for up to $3.1 billion. The acquisition includes an upfront payment of $925 million, with potential milestone-based payments of up to $2.15 billion. Anthos Therapeutics, launched in 2019 by Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis, has been developing abelacimab, a late-stage monoclonal antibody designed to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. The drug, which inhibits Factor XI, has shown a significant reduction in bleeding events in Phase 2 trials. Novartis plans to integrate abelacimab into its cardiovascular pipeline, reinforcing its commitment to thrombosis and stroke prevention.
The FDA granted Fast Track designation to abelacimab in 2022 for cancer-associated thrombosis and stroke prevention. Three Phase 3 trials are currently evaluating its effectiveness in atrial fibrillation and cancer-associated thrombosis. Novartis President of Development and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shreeram Aradhye, said, “Welcoming Anthos Therapeutics strengthens our focus in the cardiovascular space and complements our portfolio of life-changing treatments, comprehensive clinical programs, and strategic collaborations that help thousands of patients with heart disease around the world.” Dr. David Soergel, Global Head of Cardiovascular Development at Novartis, noted that abelacimab originated at Novartis and that the Anthos team has made significant progress.
