Novartis is set to acquire US biotech firm Avidity Biosciences in a deal valuing the company at around $12bn, signalling a major move to bolster its neuroscience portfolio through RNA-based therapies.
Targeting rare neuromuscular diseases
Avidity specialises in Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs), designed to deliver RNA therapeutics specifically to muscle cells – a challenging tissue to treat with this modality. The deal brings late-stage programmes targeting myotonic dystrophy type 1, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, all of which currently lack effective disease-modifying therapies and can result in severe progressive muscle loss.
Vas Narasimhan, CEO, Novartis, commented: “Avidity’s pioneering AOC platform for RNA therapeutics and its late-stage assets bolster our commitment to delivering innovative, targeted and potentially first-in-class medicines to treat devastating, progressive neuromuscular diseases. We look forward to developing these programmes to meaningfully change the trajectory of diseases for patients.”
Wider industry moves
Novartis’ acquisition is part of an growing trend for RNA-based precision medicine, reflected in a surge of deals across the pharma industry in 2025. In the neurology space, Danish pharma Lundbeck has recently partnered with Contera Pharma to co-develop oligonucleotide therapies for neurological disorders, aiming to expand their RNA-targeting pipeline, particularly where there is substantial unmet medical need.
Beyond these, several high-profile RNA-focused deals have been announced this year:
- Sanofi’s $9.5bn acquisition of Blueprint Medicines, bringing commercial and clinical-stage RNA and gene therapy assets into its fold.
- AbbVie’s $2.1bn deal for Capstan Therapeutics, gaining CAR-T and RNA delivery capabilities targeting autoimmune diseases.
- Novartis itself moved earlier in 2025 to acquire Regulus Therapeutics for up to $1.7bn, securing access to a pipeline including an RNA therapy for kidney disease.
- Bristol Myers Squibb acquired RNA start-up Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5bn, boosting its portfolio with cell and RNA therapies for multiple indications.
- Novo Nordisk, meanwhile, struck an alliance with Replicate Bioscience to bring novel self-replicating RNA therapies to the metabolic and obesity space.
With deal-making showing no sign of slowing, RNA delivery technologies and targeted neurology assets are set to remain hot property for companies looking to reshape their future pipelines. Only time will tell who will be next.
