Home / Business and Economy / Novartis Buys Tourmaline Bio for $1.4B to Advance Cardiovascular Drug
Novartis Buys Tourmaline Bio for $1.4B to Advance Cardiovascular Drug
9 Sep
Summary
- Novartis acquiring Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion
- Tourmaline's drug pacibekitug shows promise in reducing inflammation
- Wedbush downgrades Tourmaline to 'neutral' despite acquisition
On September 9th, 2025, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis announced it is acquiring Tourmaline Bio, a small biotech firm, for $1.4 billion. The deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, will give Novartis access to Tourmaline's targeted therapy drug pacibekitug, which is currently in advanced phase 2 clinical trials.
According to Novartis President Shreeram Aradhye, pacibekitug "represents a potential breakthrough" in reducing systemic inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Wedbush analyst Laura Chico believes Novartis' platform will be an "ideal spot" for the drug's development, though she has downgraded Tourmaline's rating to "neutral" from "outperform" given the $48 per share acquisition price.
Tourmaline's shares have surged more than 50% since the news broke, more than doubling in value so far this year. Novartis, on the other hand, has seen its stock gain over 30% in 2025. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Novartis' cardiovascular pipeline and provide a significant boost to Tourmaline's targeted therapy.
