Novartis to Purchase Tourmaline Bio, Enhancing Cardiovascular Pipeline with Pacibekitug for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

Acquisition Announcement: Novartis has agreed to acquire Tourmaline Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, for USD 48 per share, valuing it at approximately USD 1.4 billion. This acquisition aims to enhance Novartis' cardiovascular portfolio with Tourmaline's promising anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody, pacibekitug, which targets systemic inflammation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Clinical Potential of Pacibekitug: Pacibekitug has shown significant promise in reducing inflammation, as evidenced by Phase 2 trial results that demonstrated an 85-86% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. This therapy addresses a critical unmet need in cardiovascular care, particularly in managing residual inflammatory risk associated with ASCVD.