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BASEL, Switzerland I February 11, 2025 I Novartis today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, Inc., a Boston-based, privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with abelacimab, a late-stage medicine in development for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is fully in line with Novartis’ growth strategy and therapeutic area focus, leveraging the company’s strength and expertise in the cardiovascular area. Anthos Therapeutics, launched by Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis in 2019, has advanced abelacimab through clinical development under a license from Novartis. Abelacimab is a novel, highly selective, fully human monoclonal antibody designed to induce effective hemostasis-sparing anticoagulation through Factor XI inhibition. Phase 2 data showed a significant reduction in bleeding events in patients taking abelacimab versus a standard of care direct-oral anticoagulant in patients with atrial fibrillation (AZALEA 1,2 ). Three Phase 3 clinical trials are ongoing for patients at risk of arterial and venous clots, one in patients with atrial fibrillation (LILAC-TIMI 76 3 ) and two in cancer associated thrombosis (ASTER 4 ) and (MAGNOLIA 5 ). “We are excited to join forces to advance the development of abelacimab, a potential first-in-class treatment and safer approach for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation as well as cancer-associated thrombosis,” said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President, Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. “Welcoming Anthos Therapeutics strengthens our focus in the cardiovascular space and complements our portfolio of life-changing treatments, comprehensive clinical programs, and strategic collaborations that help thousands of patients with heart disease around the world.” In July 2022 abelacimab received a Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of thrombosis associated with cancer. In September 2022 abelacimab was also granted a Fast Track Designation for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. “Abelacimab is a potential first-in-class medicine, which promises to be an effective and safer approach to preventing thrombosis and stroke than the current standards of care.” said David Soergel, M.D., Global Head, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Development Unit, Novartis. “We are proud that this medicine originated at Novartis and have been impressed with the Anthos Therapeutics team’s expertise and dedication and with the great progress they have made on the program. Now is the right time to bring abelacimab back into the Novartis CRM pipeline.” Transaction Details Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will make an upfront payment of USD 925 million upon closing of the transaction, subject to certain customary adjustments, and potential additional payments of up to USD 2.15 billion upon achievement of specified regulatory and sales milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. About Abelacimab Abelacimab is a novel, investigational, highly selective, fully human monoclonal antibody that binds tightly to Factor XI to block its activation and prevent the generation of the activated form (Factor XIa). This mimics natural Factor XI deficiency, which is associated with protection from thromboembolic disease. About Novartis Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide. Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , X/Twitter and Instagram . References 1. Samer Al Said, et al. Bleeding with the FXI Inhibitor Abelacimab compared with Rivaroxaban in Patients on Antiplatelet therapy: A Prespecified Analysis of the AZALEA-TIMI 71 Trial. Available from: https://timi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Samer-Al-Said-Bleeding-with-the-FXI-Inhibitor-Abelacimab-compared-with-Rivaroxaban-in-Patients-on-Antiplatelet-therapy-A-Prespecified-Analysis-of-the-AZALEA-TIMI-71-Trial-.pdf . Accessed February 2024. 2. Ruff C, Patel S, et al. Abelacimab versus Rivaroxaban in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2025; 392 (4):361-371.doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2406674 3. ClinicalTrials.gov . NCT05712200. Study to evaLuate the effIcacy and Safety of abeLacimab in High-risk Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Have Been Deemed Unsuitable for Oral antiCoagulation (LILAC-TIMI 76) (LILAC-TIMI 76). Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05712200?term=NCT05712200&rank=1 . Accessed February 2024. 4. ClinicalTrials.gov . NCT05171049. A Study Comparing Abelacimab to Apixaban in the Treatment of Cancer-associated VTE. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05171049 . Accessed February 2024. 5. ClinicalTrials.gov . NCT05171075. A Study Comparing Abelacimab to Dalteparin in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal/ Genitourinary Cancer and Associated VTE (MAGNOLIA). Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05171075. Accessed February 2024 . SOURCE: Novartis

Nearly six years to the day after offloading its factor XI inhibitor to Blackstone Life Sciences, Novartis is swooping up the monoclonal antibody for $925 million upfront and up to $3.1. billion total if certain regulatory and commercial milestones are met. The Wednesday move for Anthos Therapeutics’ abelacimab marks a key moment for multiple parties. The deal adds to the Swiss pharma giant’s late-stage cardiovascular pipeline with three Phase 3 trials underway. It brings another large pharma to the factor XI table, joining Bayer, the duo of Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb, and Regeneron, among others. It also lines up a successful exit for Blackstone Life Sciences just in time for it to pitch the story to investors: The alternative asset manager is currently fundraising another pool of capital to back late-stage clinical development companies, with a target that at a minimum matches its last fund of $5 billion. And for one individual, Bill Meury, it marks the second multibillion-dollar M&A exit in 14 months. Meury served as CEO of Karuna Therapeutics when Bristol Myers swarmed in with $14 billion to gain access to its schizophrenia medicine, which was subsequently approved. He joined Anthos as CEO last April and quickly brought in his right-hand man Will Kane — the former Karuna chief commercial officer — for the same role, plus the title of president. He had also tapped former Turnstone Biologics and Seagen executive Venkat Ramanan as chief financial officer. Novartis said it anticipates the deal will close before the second half of the year. It marks a potentially long sale process for the biotech, as Reuters reported in December 2023 that Blackstone was exploring an M&A exit for Anthos, according to unnamed sources. The “natural home for this has always been Novartis,” Nicholas Galakatos, Anthos chair and global leader of Blackstone Life Sciences, told Endpoints News on Wednesday morning. While “stroke prevention was not the highest priority” six years ago, it returned to favor, Galakatos said. Anthos means “flower” in Greek. “It blossomed and Novartis picked it,” he said. “We are proud that this medicine originated at Novartis and have been impressed with the Anthos Therapeutics team’s expertise and dedication and with the great progress they have made on the program,” David Soergel, who leads Novartis’ cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CRM) drug development, said in a statement. “Now is the right time to bring abelacimab back into the Novartis CRM pipeline.” It follows another $3 billion deal from last week. Bain Capital said it would buy centuries-old Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma to help boost the Japanese pharmaceutical industry. J&J , Eli Lilly and GSK also disclosed M&A moves during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. Aside from J&J’s $14 billion takeover of commercial drugmaker Intra-Cellular Therapies, all the deals have fallen into the tuck-in range that pharmas favored last year . While Anthos launched with $250 million from Blackstone, a behemoth with the firepower to provide additional capital, the biotech would likely eventually need a large pharma company to help it launch into a massive market that other top-tier drugmakers also seek to enter. Novartis, which had retained a minority stake in Anthos when it split ties with the antibody, has the capabilities of launching medicines worldwide and the wherewithal to finalize those three pivotal trials and regulatory interactions needed to get approval. Novo Holdings also held a minority stake. “With its deep roots in the cardiovascular space, Novartis is especially well positioned to advance abelacimab’s clinical development and bring this innovative product to healthcare providers and patients,” Meury said in a release. Anthos, Regeneron, Bayer and BMS-allied J&J are all developing forms of factor XI inhibitors, which seek to take advantage of genetic studies showing factor XI deficiency could reduce rates of myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular problems. For Anthos, the initial focus is on patients with atrial fibrillation and cancer-associated thrombosis. It has FDA fast track tags across both areas. All three Phase 3 trials are slated to wrap up in 2026, according to the federal clinical trial database. Blackstone said the trials should have data in the second half of 2026. The atrial fibrillation trial is comparing abelacimab to placebo on the rate of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism. It’s estimated to enroll 1,900 patients. Meanwhile, one of the late-stage cancer studies is comparing abelacimab to BMS and Pfizer’s factor Xa inhibitor Eliquis in 1,655 patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). The other is testing Anthos’ candidate against the blood thinner dalteparin in 1,020 patients with gastrointestinal/genitourinary cancer-associated VTE. Editor’s note: This story was updated to include comments from Anthos chair Nicholas Galakatos.