Novartis Bets on Covalent Chemistry in $1B Matchpoint Therapeutics Deal

Novartis and Matchpoint Therapeutics have entered into an exclusive option and license agreement to develop and commercialize oral covalent inhibitors targeting a transcription factor linked to multiple inflammatory diseases1 2 3 4 5.

The deal could be worth up to $1 billion, with Matchpoint receiving $60 million upfront and in research funding, plus development and commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties1 2 3 5.

Matchpoint will lead all research activities through candidate selection using its proprietary Advanced Covalent Exploration (ACE) platform, which leverages covalent chemistry to precisely inhibit disease-causing protein targets that are considered historically "undruggable"2 3.

Upon exercise of its option, Novartis will receive global rights to develop and commercialize resulting products2.

The partnership aims to address significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by unlocking novel mechanisms and targeting previously hard-to-drug proteins1 2 3.

Novartis is recognized for its strength in immunology research and drug development, which is expected to help fully realize the therapeutic potential of Matchpoint's precision covalent medicines1 2.