Novartis to Acquire Avidity Biosciences in $12B Deal to Bolster RNA Therapeutics Pipeline
Swiss pharmaceutical titan Novartis AG (NVS) will acquire California-based Avidity Biosciences (RNA) for $12 billion in cash, offering a 46% premium at $72 per share. The deal accelerates Novartis' push into next-generation RNA medicines targeting muscular disorders through Avidity's proprietary antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) platform.
Avidity's technology merges antibody precision with RNA's gene-editing potential—a strategic fit for Novartis' oncology and immunology franchises. CEO Vas Narasimhan emphasized the acquisition's role in advancing late-stage muscle disease treatments, with transaction closure expected by mid-2026 following Avidity's planned spin-off of early cardiac programs.