Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Novartis wrote off more than the entire $420M purchase price after its lead eczema asset flunked a Phase IIb trial in 2020 — a near-total value destruction.
Full analysis, sources & comparables →"The object of (Novartis') affection is Ziarco, a 5-year-old upstart that has gathered positive midstage data together for ZPL389" - trade coverage framing the…
PMLiVE reports Novartis added an oral eczema drug via Ziarco, noting financial terms were undisclosed and the asset competes in a crowded atopic dermatitis…
FierceBiotech reported Novartis took a $485M impairment hit when it axed ZPL-389/adriforant from its pipeline after the H4 antagonist failed to meet…
Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.
All 9 sources with sentiment breakdown →
Novartis acquired UK-based Ziarco Group, a dermatology biotech, for undisclosed financial terms. Lead asset ZPL-389, a once-daily oral H4 receptor antagonist in development for atopic dermatitis. Strategic addition to Novartis's dermatology pipeline alongside Cosentyx (anti-IL-17A).
Novartis wrote off more than the entire $420M purchase price after its lead eczema asset flunked a Phase IIb trial in 2020 — a near-total value destruction.
Assessment window: 5yr post-close.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG / Ziarco Group Limited (this deal) | 2016 | $420M | 12 |
| 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 · Dermatology deals