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This week, Novartis NVS and AbbVie ABBV announced small M&A deals. The FDA approved the expanded use of Pfizer’s PFE cancer drug Adcetris and a tablet formulation of Roche’s RHHBY spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) drug, Evrysdi. Sanofi SNY and J&J announced that a phase III study on their extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli vaccine candidate is being discontinued.
Here's a recap of the week’s most important stories.
Novartis to Acquire Anthos Therapeutics
Novartis announced a definitive agreement to acquire private biotech Anthos Therapeutics, which will strengthen its cardiovascular pipeline by adding abelacimab, the latter’s lead pipeline candidate in phase III development for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first half of 2025, subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions.
Novartis, along with private firm Blackstone Life Sciences, launched Anthos Therapeutics in 2019. Anthos Therapeutics was developing abelacimab under a licensing deal with Novartis. For the recent deal, Novartis will make an upfront payment of $925 million to Anthos Therapeutics, with the latter also being entitled to receive up to approximately $2.15 billion in potential milestone payments.
AbbVie’s Cancer Deal With Xilio Therapeutics
AbbVie announced a collaboration and option agreement with cancer biotech Xilio Therapeutics to develop novel immunotherapies, including masked T-cell engagers, leveraging the latter’s proprietary tumor-activation technology. For the deal, AbbVie will make an upfront payment of $52.0 million to Xilio, which includes an equity investment of $10 million. In addition, Xilio will be entitled to receive up to approximately $2.1 billion in potential milestone payments plus tiered royalties.
FDA Approves Expanded Use of Pfizer’s Cancer Drug Adcetris
The FDA approved Pfizer’s cancer drug Adcetris for its eighth indication, a type of lymphoma. The FDA approval is for Adcetris in combination with lenalidomide and rituximab for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The approval is based on data from the phase III ECHELON-3 study, which showed that the Adcetris regimen reduced the risk of death by 37% compared to lenalidomide and rituximab plus placebo. Adcetris was added to Pfizer’s portfolio with the December 2023 acquisition of Seagen.
SNY & JNJ-Partnered E. coli Vaccine Fails in Phase III Study
An interim analysis of a phase III study on Sanofi and J&J’s vaccine candidate for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, conducted by an independent data monitoring committee, revealed that the vaccine failed to demonstrate sufficient efficacy in preventing invasive E. coli disease. As a result, the study is being discontinued. The companies said that no safety signals have been identified in the study. Sanofi and J&J entered into a co-development deal for the vaccine in October 2023.