Novartis launched a strategic collaboration with Antares Therapeutics, a biotech focused on precision medicines and undruggable targets in oncology. According to the details of the partnership, Antares receives $105 million in upfront payments to develop first-in-class precision medicines in oncology and other serious diseases, with the potential for additional milestone payments totaling $1.8 billion.

Alongside this collaboration, Antares will also continue to advance its own pipeline.

In a press release, Antares chief executive officer Adam Friedman, MD, PhD, said, “From the outset, our goal has been to build a discovery engine that systematically unlocks high-value, challenging targets and delivers first-in-class precision medicines. This collaboration lets us scale that engine alongside Novartis’ world-class development capabilities and global reach, so we can translate our science into transformative therapies for patients faster than either of us could alone. It builds on the work of a team that has consistently produced highly selective medicines against some of the hardest targets in drug discovery.”

In the same press release, Fiona Marshall, president of biomedical research at Novartis, added, “Novartis is committed to advancing innovative approaches to cancer drug discovery and expanding the boundaries of what's possible in oncology treatment. Many of the most compelling targets today in oncology have historically been considered undruggable. We believe this collaboration has the potential to unlock a new wave of targeted therapies and bring meaningful advances to patients.”

How has Novartis expanded its oncology production capabilities?

This is Novartis’ latest move to expand its oncology pipeline.

In May of this year, the company broke ground on a radioligand therapy site in Denton, Texas.

In a press release issued at the time, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said, “Radioligand therapy is transforming how we treat cancer, and expanded manufacturing is essential to delivering these therapies at scale. Breaking ground in Denton further strengthens our US supply chain and helps ensure patients can receive these highly personalized treatments when and where they need them.”

Texas state senator Brent Hagenbuch welcomes Novartis to the area, saying, “I’m pleased to welcome Novartis to Denton as their newest manufacturing location for their cancer therapies. Their decision establishes a strong partnership and reflects the unique opportunity Denton provides to a well-educated workforce, and the unique access the new plant location will provide to the vibrant North Texas economy and rapidly growing state population.”

What acquisitions has Novartis made this year?

Aside from partnerships, Novartis has made several recent acquisitions.

In March of this year, the company announced an agreement to acquire Excellergy, Inc, a biotech focused on anti-IgE-therapies.

In a press release issued at time, Marshall explained, “Excellergy adds a differentiated next-generation anti-IgE program that builds on biology Novartis knows well, supported by preclinical evidence and early clinical pharmacokinetic data. Exl-111 is designed to go beyond conventional anti-IgE therapy, with the potential to deliver faster and deeper suppression of IgE signaling as well as improved symptom control. This proposed acquisition strengthens our allergy portfolio and reflects our strategy of advancing innovative bold science to bring meaningful additional benefits to patients.”

Also in March, Novartis announced an agreement to acquire SNV4818 from Synnovation Therapeutics. The pan-mutant-selective P13Ka inhibitor is in Phase 1/2 clinical study.

“While mutated PI3Kα is a well‑established driver in HR+/HER2‑ breast cancer, there remains a challenge in achieving effective pathway inhibition with a tolerable therapeutic profile,” said Shreeram Aradhye, M.D., President of Development at Novartis. “SNV4818 applies new mutant‑selective chemistry to more precisely target tumor biology while sparing normal cells. This approach has the potential to translate proven biology into improved tolerability and more durable benefit for patients through precision medicine.”

Sources

1. Antares Therapeutics Enters Agreement with Novartis to Discover, Develop and Commercialize First-in-Class Cancer Therapies. Antares Therapeutics. June 24, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624633455/en/Antares-Therapeutics-Enters-Agreement-with-Novartis-to-Discover-Develop-and-Commercialize-First-in-Class-Cancer-Therapies
2. Novartis breaks ground on Denton, Texas radioligand therapy site; construction now underway across all new US facilities. Novartis. May 7, 2026. Accessed June 25, 2026. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-breaks-ground-denton-texas-radioligand-therapy-site-construction-now-underway-across-all-new-us-facilities
3. Novartis agrees to acquire Excellergy, Inc., building on allergy leadership with next-generation anti-IgE innovation. Novartis. March 27, 2026. Accessed June 25, 2026. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-agrees-acquire-excellergy-inc-building-allergy-leadership-next-generation-anti-ige-innovation
4. Novartis agrees to acquire a pan-mutant-selective PI3Kα inhibitor, strengthening its breast cancer pipeline. Novartis. March 20, 2026. Accessed June 25, 2026. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-agrees-acquire-pan-mutant-selective-pi3ka-inhibitor-strengthening-its-breast-cancer-pipeline