Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Not an acquisition at all — a cardiovascular licensing deal where Novartis dropped half the assets and the surviving one (pelacarsen) still has zero approvals or revenue after nearly a decade
Full analysis, sources & comparables →Ranks computed across 828 graded deals (Critic + Outcome Score both present).
Novartis hooked up with Ionis and Akcea to gain access to two Phase 1/2a antisense cardiovascular candidates targeting Lp(a) and ApoCIII, expanding its…
With positive Phase 2 data showing up to 80% Lp(a) reduction, Akcea and Ionis stood to receive $150M as Novartis exercised the option to license…
Novartis paid $150M to license the lead Lp(a) candidate, signaling confidence in pelacarsen as a potential first-in-class Lp(a)-lowering therapy heading into…
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Novartis entered a worldwide option and collaboration agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its Akcea Therapeutics subsidiary on two Phase 1/2a antisense cardiovascular candidates (AKCEA-APO(a)-LRx and AKCEA-APOCIII-LRx). Near-term payments of $175M total ($75M upfront + $100M equity in Ionis). Up to $600M (APO(a)) and $530M (APOCIII) in development/commercial milestones plus tiered royalties topping 20%. Novartis to fund Phase 3 CV outcomes trial upon option exercise.
Not an acquisition at all — a cardiovascular licensing deal where Novartis dropped half the assets and the surviving one (pelacarsen) still has zero approvals or revenue after nearly a decade
Assessment window: 10yr post-close.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG / Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. / Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (this deal) | 2016 | $1.4B | 26 |
| Novartis AG / Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A. | 2017 | $3.9B | 98 |
| Novartis AG / Endocyte, Inc. | 2018 | $2.1B | 96 |
| Novartis AG / Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d. | 2002 | $876M | 88 |
| Novartis AG / GlaxoSmithKline plc | 2014 | $16.0B | 81 |
| Novartis AG / PTC Therapeutics Inc. | 2024 | $2.9B | 80 |
| Novartis AG / Chinook Therapeutics Inc. | 2023 | $3.5B | 78 |
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More: 2016 deals · Novartis AG deals · Cardiovascular deals