Novartis has signed a licensing agreement with China-based Abogen Biosciences worth up to $7.8 billion for an early-stage experimental autoimmune disease treatment. The deal includes a $575 million upfront payment and up to $7.2 billion in milestone payments, plus an option to license other RNA platform assets. This move reflects growing interest from global pharma in Chinese biotech innovation, as China is expected to contribute about a third of new drug molecules by 2026. The partnership aims to help Novartis offset patent expirations and clinical setbacks by tapping into promising Chinese drug developments.
Novartis AG trades at USD 142.04 on Pluang as of Oct 02, 2026 18:31 WIB, showing a modest 0.70% gain for the day. Despite the platform's order activity heavily skewed towards selling at 96%, the company's market cap stands strong at $268.50 billion. This licensing deal with Abogen Biosciences highlights Novartis's strategic efforts to innovate and sustain growth amid patent expirations and clinical challenges.
