Key Takeaways Novartis lifted its 2024-2029 sales outlook to 6% and projects 5-6% annual growth through 2030.Stronger guidance reflects momentum from key drugs and recent launches despite U.S. generics.Kisqali and Scemblix saw sharp third-quarter sales jumps, prompting higher peak-sales forecasts.Novartis (NVS) recently held an investor event, wherein management projected sales to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5-6% (at constant currencies) for 2025-2030.Management also upgraded its sales ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation SAN DIEGO, Nov. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNA), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics called Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCsâ"¢), today announced its Managed Access Program (MAP) for investigational therapy delpacibart zotadirsen (del-zota) for eligible people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations amenable to exon 44 skipping (DMD44) in the United States. "We recognize the co ...

Announced Novartis agreement to acquire Avidity for total equity value of approximately $12 billion; Avidity expects to separate its early-stage precision cardiology programs into a new public company ("SpinCo") Clear path forward aligned with FDA following pre-BLA meeting for del-zota, with BLA submission planned for 2026 Del-zota one-year data demonstrated sustained muscle protection leading to meaningful improvement and reversal of disease progression across multiple key functional measures Strong balanc ...

Key Points It is being acquired for quite a meaty premium. The buyer is a top name in the global pharmaceuticals space. 10 stocks we like better than Avidity Biosciences › A richly priced buyout seriously boosted the share price of biotech Avidity Biosciences (NASDAQ: RNA) as the stock trading week began. The company's equity rose by 42%, closing to land just below the buyout price. This leap looked quite impressive next to the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), as the bellwether stock indicator only incre ...

Core Insights - Novartis is acquiring Avidity Biosciences for approximately $12 billion in cash to enhance its RNA-based disease-fighting pipeline [2][3] - Avidity shareholders will receive $72 per share, representing a 46.5% premium over Avidity's closing price prior to the announcement [2][6] - The acquisition will provide Novartis access to three late-stage experimental treatments for serious genetic neuromuscular diseases, utilizing Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC) [3][4] Company Impact - The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year and is projected to increase Novartis's sales compound annual growth rate from 5% to 6% for the period of 2024 to 2029 [4] - Avidity's stock surged over 40% following the announcement, reflecting strong market interest in RNA therapeutics [2][6] - Dyne Therapeutics, another company in the RNA therapy space, also saw its shares rise significantly, indicating a broader positive sentiment in the sector [5][6] Industry Context - The acquisition highlights the growing investor and industry interest in RNA therapeutics, particularly for neuromuscular diseases [3] - Novartis's commitment to innovative and targeted therapies is reinforced by this strategic acquisition, aiming to address progressive neuromuscular diseases [4]

Summary of Novartis Conference Call on Avidity Biosciences Acquisition Company and Industry - **Company**: Novartis - **Acquisition Target**: Avidity Biosciences - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on neuromuscular diseases and RNA therapeutics Core Points and Arguments 1. **Acquisition Details**: Novartis proposes to acquire Avidity Biosciences for $72 per share, representing a 46% premium to Avidity's closing price on October 24th, with a total transaction value estimated at $12 billion [4][25][32] 2. **Strategic Fit**: The acquisition is seen as a strong strategic fit for Novartis, enhancing its presence in neuromuscular diseases and expanding its RNA technology platform [4][6] 3. **Growth Potential**: The acquisition is expected to materially improve Novartis's growth profile, with three late-stage assets anticipated to unlock multiple near-term multibillion-dollar opportunities, with launches expected before 2030 [8][32] 4. **Long-term Outlook**: The assets acquired are projected to have no loss of exclusivity (LOE) before at least 2042, and they are exempt from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) [8][31] 5. **Financial Impact**: The acquisition is expected to raise Novartis's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 5% to 6% for 2024 to 2029, despite a short-term margin dilution of 1% to 2% [9][10][32] 6. **Technology Platform**: Avidity's AOC RNA platform allows for the delivery of RNA therapeutics to muscle tissues, which is a significant advancement in the field [11][49] 7. **Pipeline Overview**: The acquisition includes three key assets targeting myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) [12][20][26] 8. **Regulatory Designations**: The assets have received various regulatory designations, including orphan drug and breakthrough therapy designations, which facilitate faster development and approval processes [14][20][26] 9. **Market Potential**: The combined patient populations for DM1 and FSHD are estimated to be between 125,000 and 167,000, indicating a substantial market opportunity [12][20] 10. **Commercial Strategy**: Novartis plans to leverage its existing commercial capabilities in neuromuscular diseases to drive rapid uptake of the new therapies [28][29] Other Important but Overlooked Content 1. **Spin-off Structure**: Avidity's early-stage precision cardiology programs will be separated into a new spin-off to streamline the acquisition process and manage third-party agreements [4][25][48] 2. **Clinical Trial Insights**: The Phase 1-2 studies for the assets have shown promising results, with significant improvements in functional measures and favorable safety profiles [16][21][27] 3. **Market Competition**: Novartis aims to be a market leader in the three diseases targeted by the acquisition, despite the presence of multiple competitors in the space [40][76] 4. **Future Applications**: The AOC RNA platform has potential applications beyond neuromuscular diseases, with ongoing research into its use for other organ systems [49][77] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call regarding Novartis's acquisition of Avidity Biosciences, highlighting the strategic rationale, financial implications, and future growth potential within the biotechnology sector.

Summary of Avidity Biosciences Conference Call Company and Industry Overview - **Company**: Avidity Biosciences (NasdaqGM:RNA) - **Acquirer**: Novartis - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on RNA therapeutics and neuromuscular diseases Key Points and Arguments 1. **Acquisition Details**: Novartis proposes to acquire Avidity Biosciences for $72 per share, representing a 46% premium over Avidity's closing price on October 24, 2025 [4][25] 2. **Strategic Fit**: The acquisition is seen as a strong strategic fit for Novartis, enhancing its presence in neuromuscular diseases and expanding its RNA technology platform [4][6] 3. **Growth Potential**: The acquisition is expected to improve Novartis's medium and long-term growth profile, raising its CAGR from 5% to 6% for 2024 to 2029 [10][32] 4. **Late-Stage Assets**: Novartis will acquire three late-stage assets from Avidity, which are anticipated to unlock multiple near-term multibillion-dollar opportunities with launches expected before 2030 [8][32] 5. **Pipeline Overview**: The acquisition includes a preclinical neuromuscular pipeline and a platform for extrahepatic delivery of xRNAs, which is crucial for targeting RNA therapeutics beyond the liver [5][11] 6. **Disease Focus**: The focus is on high unmet needs in neuromuscular diseases, specifically targeting conditions like DM1 (myotonic dystrophy type 1) and FSHD (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) [7][20] 7. **Regulatory Designations**: Delbisiran for DM1 has received FDA orphan drug designation, FastTrack designation, and breakthrough therapy designation, indicating its potential as a transformative therapy [14][20] 8. **Market Potential**: The combined patient population for DM1 and FSHD is estimated to be between 125,000 and 167,000, with significant potential for market capture due to the lack of approved therapies [12][20] 9. **Financial Impact**: The total transaction value is estimated at $12 billion, with an enterprise value of $11 billion at the expected closing date in the first half of 2026 [25][32] 10. **Long-Term Outlook**: The assets acquired are expected to contribute significantly to Novartis's growth through the 2040s, with no loss of exclusivity (LOE) expected before 2042 [8][32] Additional Important Content 1. **Technology Platform**: Avidity's AOCs™ platform allows for targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics to muscle tissues, which is a significant advancement in the field [11][49] 2. **Clinical Trials**: The Phase 1-2 studies for Delbisiran and Delbrac have shown promising results, with significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes and biomarkers [17][21] 3. **Commercial Strategy**: Novartis plans to leverage its existing commercial capabilities in neuromuscular diseases to drive rapid uptake of the new therapies [28][30] 4. **Cost Synergies**: While cost synergies from the merger may be limited, Novartis expects to achieve productivity improvements and maintain a strong balance sheet [63][71] 5. **Regulatory Strategy**: Novartis aims to approach the FDA for accelerated approval based on compelling biomarker data from ongoing studies [72][73] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call regarding the acquisition of Avidity Biosciences by Novartis, highlighting the strategic rationale, growth potential, and the expected impact on Novartis's portfolio and market position.

Transaction Overview - Novartis will acquire all outstanding shares of Avidity for USD 7200 per share in cash, representing a 46% premium to the October 24 closing price[8] - The total transaction value is USD 12 billion on a fully diluted basis, representing an enterprise value of approximately USD 11 billion at the expected closing date[80] - The transaction is expected to close in H1 2026, pending SpinCo separation and customary conditions[8,80] Strategic Rationale - The acquisition strengthens the Neuroscience franchise by adding three late-stage neuromuscular programs[14] - It enhances the mid-to-long-term growth profile, with substantial sales and profit growth expected through the 2040s, and LOEs not before 2042 and IRA-exempt[14] - Avidity raises Novartis' expected 2024-2029 sales CAGR from +5% to +6%, bolstering mid-single-digit long-term growth[21,80] Avidity's Core Value Drivers - Del-desiran is on track to be the first approved drug for DM1, targeting approximately 80,000 patients in the US and Europe[28,29] - Del-brax is on track to be the first approved drug for FSHD, targeting approximately 45,000-87,000 patients in the US and Europe[28,44] - Del-zota in DMD44 targets approximately 900 patients in the US, with an FDA submission expected in 2026[28,58,63]

Core Insights - Novartis has agreed to acquire Avidity Biosciences for approximately $12 billion in cash to enhance its portfolio for rare muscle disorders [1][3] - Avidity stockholders will receive $72 per share, reflecting a 46% premium over the company's closing price prior to the announcement [1][2] - The acquisition aligns with Novartis's strategy to address the patent cliff of its major drugs and expand into areas with limited treatment options [2][3] Company Strategy - The acquisition is part of Novartis's proactive approach to mitigate the impact of patent expirations on key drugs like Entresto, Xolair, and Cosentyx [2] - Avidity will spin off its early-stage precision cardiology programs into a new publicly traded company named Spinco [2][5] - This move strengthens Novartis's presence in the rare disease market, particularly in muscle disorders [3][4] Avidity Biosciences Overview - Avidity, based in San Diego, is a clinical-stage company focused on developing treatments for various muscle disorders [3] - The company has a market capitalization of nearly $6.7 billion and is advancing several first-in-class drug candidates [4] - Avidity's lead drug, Del-zota, is in early-to-mid-stage development for a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with additional candidates targeting serious muscle diseases [4]

Core Viewpoint - Novartis has agreed to acquire Avidity Biosciences for approximately $12 billion in cash to enhance its portfolio in rare muscle disorder treatments [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Avidity stockholders will receive $72 per share, reflecting a 46% premium over the company's closing price prior to the announcement [1]. - Avidity will spin off its early-stage precision cardiology programs into a new publicly traded company named Spinco [2][5]. Group 2: Strategic Rationale - The acquisition allows Novartis to expand into areas with limited treatment options, strengthening its position in the rare disease market [3]. - Avidity is developing treatments for various muscle disorders, including a lead drug in early-to-mid-stage development for a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy [4]. Group 3: Market Context - Novartis is proactively making deals to address the impending patent cliff for several of its blockbuster drugs [2]. - The deal positions Novartis to establish a stronger foothold in the U.S. market amid potential pharmaceutical tariff threats [5].