Novartis CEO defends $12 billion deal for Avidity as 'appropriate risk to take'

Core Viewpoint - Novartis defends its $12 billion acquisition of Avidity Biosciences, stating it is an appropriate risk ahead of upcoming late-stage data for Avidity's muscle disorder treatment [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition price is set at $72 per share, representing a 46% premium over Avidity's previous closing price [2] - This deal is the second-largest biotech acquisition of the year, following Johnson & Johnson's $14.6 billion purchase [3] - It marks the largest acquisition for Novartis under CEO Vas Narasimhan, who has been in the role since 2018 [4] Group 2: Strategic Rationale - The acquisition is part of Novartis' strategy to bolster its pipeline ahead of patent expirations for key drugs like Entresto and Xolair [4] - Avidity's late-stage therapies target rare neuromuscular disorders, with one therapy, Del-zota, expected to seek FDA approval next year [5] - Analysts view Avidity's therapies as a natural fit for Novartis' rare disease portfolio, although the acquisition price is considered higher than typical bolt-on deals [6][7] Group 3: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Novartis' shares fell by 1.5%, while Avidity's stock surged over 40% [2] - The deal signals a potential increase in M&A activity within the biotech sector, driven by lower valuations and recent drug pricing agreements in the U.S. [3]