Abogen

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has agreed to a licensing deal worth up to $7.8 billion with China's Abogen Biosciences to develop mRNA-based therapies. The agreement gives Novartis access to Abogen's mRNA technology, highlighting growing Western pharmaceutical interest in Chinese biotech assets and keeping momentum behind mRNA platforms beyond vaccines.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has agreed a deal worth about $7.8 billion with China's Abogen Biosciences, according to Reuters. The agreement centres on mRNA technology, marking a significant move by Novartis into the field and a landmark licensing arrangement for a Chinese biotech firm with a major Western pharmaceutical partner.

Novartis has agreed to acquire Chinese biotech Abogen in a deal worth $7.8bn, betting on bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) aimed at autoimmune diseases. The move signals the Swiss drugmaker's push into next-generation immunology therapies, expanding its pipeline beyond traditional treatments. Industry watchers see it as part of a broader wave of big pharma deals targeting autoimmune conditions with engineered antibody technologies.