Novartis announced it has agreed to acquire Tourmaline Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing pacibekitug, an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody designed to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The acquisition adds a Phase 3-ready asset to Novartis’ cardiovascular portfolio, targeting inflammation as a key driver of cardiovascular risk.
Pacibekitug works by inhibiting IL-6, a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, which is implicated in the progression of ASCVD. This approach aims to fill a gap in cardiovascular treatment, as no widely used anti-inflammatory therapies currently exist for reducing residual inflammatory risk in these patients.
“The progress made by Tourmaline with pacibekitug is promising,” said Shreeram Aradhye, President of Development and Chief Medical Officer at Novartis. “We look forward to advancing this potential breakthrough therapy within our cardiovascular strategy.”
Data from the Phase 2 TRANQUILITY study released in May 2025 showed that pacibekitug significantly reduced markers of inflammation, specifically high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), by over 85% at different dosing regimens, with safety profiles comparable to placebo.
Novartis expects this acquisition to diversify its cardiovascular care efforts and accelerate the development of innovative therapies addressing unmet needs in heart disease treatment.