With $1.1B Myricx buy, Novartis takes plunge into ADCs

Novartis’ planned acquisition of Myricx for $1.1 billion up front would give it a platform to develop ADCs with a novel payload, broadening its commitment to conjugated cancer treatments beyond its historical strengths in radioligand therapies and small molecules.

The deal gives Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) a preclinical pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates that deliver NMT inhibitors as their cytotoxic agents. Preclinical data have shown differentiated effects compared with existing ADC payloads; the pharma said Myricx’s products could be used in settings where patients have resistance to more common topoisomerase-inhibiting payloads, or could overcome limitations of other payload classes...