Novartis to Acquire RNA Drugmaker Avidity Biosciences in $12 Billion Deal
Novartis announced a definitive agreement to acquire Avidity Biosciences for $12 billion in cash246.
Avidity Biosciences specializes in RNA-based therapies targeting neuromuscular diseases, using its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs) platform246.
The acquisition brings three late-stage programs into Novartis’ pipeline:
treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)125.
Avidity’s early-stage precision cardiology assets will be spun off into a new company, 'SpinCo', before the acquisition completes246.
The deal values Avidity at $72 per share, a 46% premium to the prior closing price17.
Novartis expects this acquisition to strengthen its neuroscience franchise, expand its leadership in genetic neuromuscular diseases, and advance its xRNA (expanded RNA) strategy246.
Novartis projects that product launches from the acquired pipeline could occur before 2030, unlocking multi-billion-dollar revenue opportunities and boosting its expected annual sales growth rate (CAGR) to +6% through 2029246.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary conditions and the completion of the SpinCo separation246.
Sources:
1. https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/26/novartis-acquire-avidity-rna-neuromuscular-diseases/
2. https://news.europawire.eu/novartis-advances-rna-medicine-strategy-through-usd-12-billion-acquisition-of-avidity-biosciences-and-its-late-stage-neuromuscular-programs/eu-press-release/2025/10/27/10/43/26/164263/
4. https://news.futunn.com/en/post/63808446/novartis-agrees-to-acquire-avidity-biosciences-an-innovator-in-rna
5. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/novartis-goes-big-neuroscience-12b-deal-late-stage-dystrophy-biotech-avidity
6. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/26/3174251/0/en/Novartis-agrees-to-acquire-Avidity-Biosciences-an-innovator-in-RNA-therapeutics-strengthening-its-late-stage-neuroscience-pipeline.html
7. https://www.biospace.com/deals/novartis-to-bolster-neuromuscular-pipeline-with-12b-avidity-acquisition