Switzerland: Novartis to acquire Mariana Oncology for up to US$1.75bn

Swiss-based multinational pharmaceutical company, Novartis, is acquiring Mariana Oncology, a US-based preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing radioligand therapies (RLTs) to treat cancers, for US$1bn upfront with up to US$750m in potential milestone payments.

The transaction bolsters Novartis’ RLT pipeline and expands the company’s research infrastructure and clinical supply capabilities. RLTs, or radiopharmaceuticals, are a form of precision medicine that combines a tumour-targeting molecule (ligand) with a…