Novartis to Acquire Avidity Biosciences for US$12 Billion in Rare-Disease Push

Novartis has agreed to acquire Avidity Biosciences in an all-cash deal valued at approximately US$12 billion. The transaction will give Novartis full ownership of Avidity’s RNA-based antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate platform and three advanced programmes targeting neuromuscular disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

The purchase, one of the largest biotech acquisitions of the year, underscores Novartis’s strategy to expand into rare and genetic diseases as it faces increasing competition for some of its established medicines. Avidity’s innovative platform enables precise delivery of RNA therapeutics to muscle tissue, a capability that has generated strong industry interest.

As part of the agreement, Avidity will spin off its early-stage cardiology programmes into a new publicly traded company prior to completion of the deal. For Novartis, this acquisition adds significant depth to its pipeline in high-unmet-need conditions and strengthens its long-term positioning in advanced RNA-based drug development.