M&A News: Novartis Seals $3.1B Deal to Acquire Anthos

Novartis (NVS) has sealed a $3.1 billion deal to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Anthos Therapeutics. The deal includes an initial payment of $925 million, with the potential for an additional $2.15 billion in future payments based on specific conditions. The deal is expected to close within the first half of 2025.

Novartis Expands Cardiovascular Lineup with Anthos

With Anthos’ acquisition, Novartis aims to expand its late-stage cardiovascular pipeline. Notably, Anthos was founded in 2019 by Blackstone Life Sciences (BX) and Novartis. It holds exclusive global rights from Novartis to develop, produce, and sell abelacimab, a new drug designed to prevent stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation and cancer.

In the AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial, abelacimab demonstrated significant benefits over its rival rivaroxaban, including a 62% reduction in major bleeding events. Xarelto (rivaroxaban), developed by German pharmaceutical company Bayer (BAYRY), is marketed in the U.S. by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).

This highlights the potential of abelacimab as a crucial treatment for the millions of people globally with atrial fibrillation at high stroke risk. Meanwhile, Novartis is well-positioned to lead abelacimab’s clinical development with its strong expertise in cardiovascular care.

For Blackstone investors, this exit underscores the firm’s ability to identify, develop, and capitalize on high-potential healthcare assets. The rapid progression from its 2019 founding to a $3.1 billion exit in 2025 demonstrates an impressive ROI (return on investment).

Is Novartis a Good Share to Buy?

According to TipRanks consensus, NVS stock has a Moderate Buy rating, based on one Buy and two Holds assigned in the last three months. The Novartis share price target of $140.50 suggests a 31.5% upside from current levels.

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