Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Novartis acquired Anthos Therapeutics (a 2019 Blackstone Life Sciences / Novartis spinout) for up to $3.1B — $925M upfront plus regulatory and sales milestones — announced Feb 11, 2025 and closed Apr 3, 2025, reacquiring the Factor XI/XIa inhibitor abelacimab. Abelacimab is a once-monthly subcutaneous fully human monoclonal antibody positioned as a hemostasis-sparing anticoagulant. The lead opportunity is stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: the Phase 3 LILAC-TIMI 76 trial (NCT05712200) remains in recruitment with completion expected Oct 2026 and a Novartis-targeted 2028 regulatory filing. The secondary cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) program has since failed: in early 2026 Novartis terminated both Phase 3 CAT studies — ASTER (NCT05171049, vs apixaban) after a data review indicated abelacimab would not beat Eliquis, and MAGNOLIA (NCT05171075, vs dalteparin in GI/GU cancer VTE) — ending abelacimab development in CAT and narrowing the asset's value to the AF indication.