03:42 AM EDT, 03/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Novartis ( NVS ) said Friday it agreed to buy Pikavation Therapeutics, a Synnovation Therapeutics unit, for $2 billion upfront and up to $1 billion in milestone payments.

The acquisition of Pikavation Therapeutics includes a portfolio of targeted enzyme inhibitors, featuring a lead oral drug currently undergoing early-to-mid-stage clinical trials for advanced solid tumors, the company said.

The experimental therapy is designed to selectively target mutated proteins present in roughly 40% of patients with a specific type of breast cancer, Novartis ( NVS ) said.

By preserving normal cellular proteins, the treatment aims to reduce adverse side effects and improve tolerability compared to existing options on the market, the company said.

The company also said the transaction is expected to close in H1, pending regulatory clearance and standard closing conditions.