Novartis acquires Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion, gaining rights to pacibekitug, the first drug that targets the cause of atherosclerosis rather than its effects. This is Novartis' fifth major deal this year. The total value of the agreements has already exceeded $13 billion.

Novartis has agreed to acquire US biotech start-up Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion, according to a press release.

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant offered shareholders $48 per share, 60% above their market price at the close of trading on September 8. The deal was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. It is planned to be completed by the end of the year, the statement said.

The manufacturer will obtain the rights to the experimental drug pacibekitug, intended for the treatment of atherosclerotic heart disease. It is a monoclonal antibody that blocks interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes and contributing to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. It is administered subcutaneously once every three months.

Mechanism of disease development and drug action

Atherosclerosis develops due to the accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries. A key role in the pathogenesis is played by the oxidation of cholesterol under the influence of free radicals, which are formed by smoking, air pollution, stress, high blood pressure, and other factors.

In the vessel wall, where there are few natural antioxidants, normal cholesterol is converted into toxic forms that the immune system perceives as a threat. When oxidized cholesterol enters the blood vessels, macrophages—immune cells—begin to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, and turn into “foamy cells.” They accumulate in the vessel wall, resulting in the formation of plaques that narrow the lumen of the vessels and can completely block blood flow, causing heart attacks and strokes.

Standard drug treatment for atherosclerosis involves combating its symptoms: statins lower cholesterol levels, antiplatelet agents thin the blood, and ACE inhibitors help normalize blood pressure. Pacibekitug is claimed to be the first drug to target the cause of the disease — inflammation of the vascular wall. Doctors currently have anti-inflammatory drugs at their disposal, but these can increase the risk of thrombosis and are therefore not used to prevent heart disease.

Research

In phase II of the TRANQUILITY clinical trials, the drug reduced C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, by 85–86%, depending on the dosage. At the same time, its tolerability was comparable to that of a placebo. Phase III will begin soon.

About heart disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers heart disease to be the leading cause of death worldwide. According to its estimates, these diseases claim approximately 17.9 million lives each year.

About Novartis deals

The acquisition of Tourmaline Bio was the Swiss manufacturer's fifth major deal this year, with its total purchases already exceeding $13 billion.

In February, it signed a $3.1 billion agreement with Anthos Therapeutics, acquiring the rights to the anticoagulant candidate abelacimab. In April, the company announced the acquisition of Regulus Therapeutics for $1.7 billion, adding farabursen, a promising treatment for polycystic kidney disease, to its portfolio. In September, two agreements were signed for the development of RNA drugs: for neuromuscular diseases with the American company Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals for $2 billion, and for heart diseases with the Chinese company Argo Biopharmaceutical for $5.2 billion.

 

Source: Novartis