Sept 3 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis has

signed an up to $5.2 billion licensing and options deal with

Argo Biopharmaceutical for its experimental cardiovascular

drugs, the China-based biotech said on Wednesday.

The deal includes an experimental genetic medicine in

mid-stage study to control high blood fat levels and an option

to license two drug candidates for high levels of certain blood

cholesterols, which increase the risk of heart disease.

The deals are for sales outside China, Argo said.

The biotech, which develops genetic medicines, said Novartis

has also expressed a non-binding intention to participate in its

next round of equity financing.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini

Ganguli and Sriraj Kalluvila)