Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) has officially announced the completion of its acquisition of Avidity Biosciences, Inc., which now operates as an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary. This strategic move is designed to bolster Novartis’ neuromuscular disease pipeline.
Transaction Details and Financial Impact Under the merger agreement, Avidity’s common stockholders received $72.00 per share in cash. The transaction values the company at approximately $12 billion on a fully diluted basis. Consequently, Avidity’s shares have ceased trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Technological Assets and Future Outlook The acquisition grants Novartis access to Avidity’s pioneering Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC) platform, which focuses on RNA-based treatments for genetic muscle diseases. Key highlights include:
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Three Late-Stage Programs: These are now integrated into Novartis’ development portfolio, with product launches anticipated before 2030.
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Strategic Alignment: The move supports Novartis’ target of a 5 – 6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in net sales from 2025 to 2030.
This milestone follows a strong financial performance by Novartis, with fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) reaching $2.03, outperforming market expectations and reinforcing investor confidence in the company’s expansion strategy.