Home / Business and Economy / Novartis & Abogen: $7.8B mRNA Deal for Autoimmune Cures
Novartis & Abogen: $7.8B mRNA Deal for Autoimmune Cures
2 Oct
Summary
- Novartis secures global rights to Abogen's experimental mRNA therapy ABO2203.
- Deal valued up to $7.8 billion with upfront and milestone payments.
- ABO2203 aims to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Swiss pharmaceutical leader Novartis has announced a major licensing and option agreement with China-based Abogen Biosciences, potentially valued at $7.8 billion. This strategic collaboration targets the development of innovative mRNA-based therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Novartis has secured exclusive worldwide rights to Abogen's experimental drug, ABO2203, which leverages mRNA technology for autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The agreement also grants Novartis options for additional therapies derived from Abogen's RNA delivery platform.
Abogen is set to receive an initial payment of $575 million, with the possibility of earning up to $7.2 billion in future milestone payments and royalties. This marks a significant expansion for Abogen, previously known for mRNA vaccine candidates, into new therapeutic areas.
The deal underscores a growing trend of Western pharmaceutical companies partnering with Chinese biotech firms to enhance their drug pipelines and address unmet medical needs. ABO2203 employs an in vivo approach, aiming to guide the body's cells to produce therapeutic molecules internally.
