Novartis set to acquire Myricx Bio for next-generation antibody-drug conjugate innovation and a novel NMTi payload platform into its oncology arsenal

Novartis has entered into an agreement to acquire Myricx Bio, a privately held UK-based biotechnology company building a new class of antibody-drug conjugates through the use of N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor payloads.

The proposed deal would deepen the Novartis oncology pipeline and push forward the development of next-generation targeted drug conjugates underpinned by a novel payload mechanism. Myricx’s platform is designed to deliver a distinctly differentiated cancer-killing payload directly to tumour cells, with the potential to overcome the limitations that shadow widely used ADC payload classes such as TOPO-1 inhibitors. Two lead assets, directed at the targets B7-H3 and HER2, are currently in development, each carrying potential across a range of solid tumour settings.

“ADCs have become an important part of cancer treatment, but there remains a clear need for new payload mechanisms to overcome resistance and expand their impact for patients,” said Fiona Marshall, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis. “Myricx Bio has developed a promising NMTi payload platform with a differentiated mechanism that could broaden the use of ADCs across multiple tumor settings. This proposed acquisition reflects our strategy to scale innovative platforms, as we have with radioligand therapies, to deliver more durable, transformative treatments for patients.”

N-myristoyltransferase is an enzyme that supports the function of critical proteins within cells, a process on which cancer cells depend for their growth and survival. Myricx’s payload works by blocking this enzyme, disrupting the internal machinery that tumour cells rely on to thrive. Preclinical findings point to broad activity for this novel NMTi payload across solid tumours, including in models resistant to TOPO-1 inhibitors, and suggest it may unlock more effective use of ADCs in settings where existing payload options fall short.

Looking further ahead, the agreement positions Novartis to help establish NMTi, should it prove out clinically, as an entirely new class of ADC payload with the versatility to be deployed across additional targets and platforms.

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Related Topics and Keywords

Myricx Bio, Novartis, Oncology