Novartis to Acquire Tourmaline Bio for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
Tuesday, September 09, 2025
Novartis has announced an agreement to acquire Tourmaline Bio.
Tourmaline is developing pacibekitug, an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The addition of pacibekitug is expected to complement Novartis’ cardiovascular portfolio by targeting IL-6, a key cytokine that drives systemic inflammation. Inflammation is recognised as a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, yet no widely adopted anti-inflammatory therapies currently exist to reduce cardiovascular risk.
Pacibekitug is designed as an investigational IgG2 human monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to IL-6. The Phase 2 TRANQUILITY 90-day study, released in May 2025, showed significant reductions in median high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Results demonstrated an 85% reduction at a monthly dose of 15 mg and an 86% reduction at a quarterly dose of 50 mg. Safety outcomes were comparable to placebo, highlighting the therapy’s potential as a convenient option with quarterly administration.
Through this acquisition, Novartis will secure a Phase 3-ready asset to support its cardiovascular strategy and address residual inflammatory risk in ASCVD. The company continues to focus on developing innovative treatments in areas of high unmet need, while also advancing technologies such as its xRNA platform and pursuing solutions for genetically driven cardiovascular conditions and common heart diseases, including atrial fibrillation.
For more than four decades, Novartis has played a leading role in cardiovascular care and remains committed to tackling the most pressing challenges in this field.
Source: novartis.com
