On Tuesday, Novartis AG ( NVS ) agreed to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, Inc., a Boston-based, privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.

Anthos is developing abelacimab, a late-stage medicine to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly.

Novartis ( NVS ) will pay an upfront payment of $925 million and potential additional payments of up to $2.15 billion upon achieving specified regulatory and sales milestones.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

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The transaction aligns with Novartis' ( NVS ) growth strategy and therapeutic area focus, leveraging the company's strength and expertise in the cardiovascular area.

Anthos Therapeutics, launched by Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis ( NVS ) in 2019, has advanced abelacimab through clinical development under a license from Novartis ( NVS ).

Abelacimab is a fully human monoclonal antibody designed to induce effective hemostasis-sparing anticoagulation through Factor XI inhibition.

Phase 2 data showed a significant reduction in bleeding events in patients taking abelacimab versus a standard-of-care direct-oral anticoagulant in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Three Phase 3 trials are ongoing for patients at risk of arterial and venous clots, one in patients with atrial fibrillation and two in cancer-associated thrombosis.

In July 2022 abelacimab received an FDA Fast Track Designation for thrombosis associated with cancer.

In September 2022, abelacimab was also granted a Fast Track Designation for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.

In November, Novartis ( NVS ) acquired Kate Therapeutics to enhance and strengthen its portfolio of gene therapies.

Kate Therapeutics is a San Diego-based, preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies to treat genetically defined neuromuscular diseases.

The transaction value is up to $1.1 billion, comprising an upfront payment and potential additional milestone payments.

Price Action: NVS stock is down 0.31% at $106.52 during the premarket session on last check Tuesday.

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