Novartis Deepens Strategic siRNA Collaboration with Boatman Pharma in $5.2 Billion BD Deal, Fueling Innovation-Driven Pharma Rally

On the news front, Novartis continues to bet on siRNA technology. Following a high-value collaboration with Argo Biopharma in January last year, another significant BD deal has been reached today. The upfront payment for this transaction is $160 million, with a total potential milestone value of approximately $5.2 billion. This cooperation represents a further deepening of the relationship since their first "close contact" last year, bringing the total value of the two deals to nearly $9.4 billion.

Novartis' core cardiovascular product Entresto is nearing patent expiration, and this deepened collaboration with Argo on long-acting siRNA technology is seen as a key move in "supplementing and upgrading its strategic layout" in this field.

Since 2025, the innovative drug sector has continued to experience a strong rally. For instance, the Wind Innovative Drug Index reached a record high of eight consecutive weekly gains earlier this year. On Tuesday (September 2, 2025), the index hit its highest intraday level in nearly four years! As of the market close on September 4, the index had surged 54% year-to-date, significantly outpacing the 18.25% gain of the broader Wind All A-Share Index during the same period.