Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has agreed to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, a biopharma firm majority-owned by private investment giant Blackstone’s Life Sciences division, in a deal worth up to $3.1bn, according to a report by Reuters.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for Blackstone’s healthcare investment arm, showcasing its strategy of building and scaling innovative biopharma companies.
Anthos Therapeutics was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis to focus on developing treatments for cardiovascular conditions including the development of flagship therapy, abelacimab, which targets stroke prevention and blood clot recurrence.
The deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025, includes an upfront payment of $925m, with potential milestone payments of up to $2.15bn. In a statement, a Blackstone spokesperson described the transaction as the largest sale to date of a majority-owned Blackstone Life Sciences portfolio company.
The acquisition underscores Blackstone’s growing influence in the biopharma space. “This is a landmark deal for Blackstone Life Sciences, showcasing our ability to identify and nurture transformative therapies,” a Blackstone spokesperson said.
