Deals report: Novartis strengthens radiotherapy pipeline with pair of deals

Novartis has every intention of remaining a leader in targeted radiotherapies, and in the last seven days has struck two deals to further build out its pipeline and toolbox, acquiring Mariana and expanding its partnership with PeptiDream.

Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) paid $1 billion up front to purchase  Mariana Oncology Inc., which is eligible for another $750 million. The deal gives Novartis actinium-225 emitter MC-339 for small cell lung cancer. The α-emitting radiotherapy will complement the pharma’s marketed β-emitting drugs. Broadly, α-emitters tend to cause greater DNA-damage than β-emitters, with shallower tumor penetration but greater precision. Having both in the toolkit offers more optionality for therapeutic optimization. The deal also gives the pharma Mariana’s R&D platform, which can be used to create either type of therapy. ...