Novartis(US:NVS) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-12-09 07:07Group 1 - Novartis will pay up to $1.7 billion to Relation Therapeutics to assist in identifying drug targets for allergic diseases [1] - The deal combines Novartis's expertise in immunodermatology with Relation's AI-driven drug discovery platform, utilizing patient data to uncover genetic bases of disease manifestations [1] - Relation will receive an initial funding of $55 million, including upfront payments, equity investments, and R&D funding, along with potential milestone payments and tiered royalties based on product sales [1] Group 2 - Novartis has been active in M&A, notably acquiring Avidity Biosciences for $12 billion, marking its largest acquisition in over a decade [2] - The company faces competition from cheaper generics for three key drugs, including its best-selling heart drug Entresto, making revenue growth post-2025 critical [2] - Relation focuses on accelerating the identification of pathogenic genes and selecting promising drug targets likely to succeed in clinical trials [2] Group 3 - Earlier this year, Novartis agreed to acquire Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion to gain a treatment for systemic inflammation [3] - The company also agreed to acquire Regulus Therapeutics for up to $1.7 billion and further enhance its cardiology portfolio through the acquisition of Anthos Therapeutics [3]