Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
A preclinical acquisition betting entirely on a novel payload class: Novartis paid $1.1B upfront (up to $1.5B) for Myricx Bio's NMTi antibody-drug conjugate platform, designed to overcome resistance to established payloads like TOPO-1 inhibitors, though both lead assets—targeting B7-H3 and HER2—remain preclinical with years of derisking ahead.
Differentiated next-gen ADC payload play, early-stage risk
Full analysis, sources & comparables →Novartis agreed on July 6, 2026 to acquire privately held, UK-based Myricx Bio for USD 1.1 billion upfront plus up to USD 400 million in milestone payments (up to USD 1.5 billion total). Myricx's platform is a new class of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads based on inhibition of N-myristoyltransferase (NMTi), designed to overcome resistance to established payloads such as TOPO-1 inhibitors. The acquisition brings two lead preclinical assets targeting B7-H3 and HER2 across multiple solid-tumor settings. The transaction is expected to close in H2 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
Myricx's NMTi antibody-drug conjugate payloads are designed for multiple solid-tumor settings, including tumors expressing B7-H3 and HER2. The NMTi mechanism aims to kill cancer cells via a pathway distinct from common TOPO-1 inhibitor payloads, addressing payload resistance. Lead assets are preclinical; no indication was approved at signing.
Novartis agrees to acquire UK ADC-payload biotech Myricx Bio: $1.1B upfront + up to $400M milestones. Expected to close H2 2026.
Preclinical but strategically timely: NMTi payloads could differentiate Novartis's ADC portfolio against TOPO-1 resistance. Value is milestone-back-loaded and clinical risk is high.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG / Myricx Bio Ltd. (this deal) | 2026 | $1.5B | 62 |
| 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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