Novartis pays $575 million upfront for access to Chinese biotech Abogen’s RNA platform and option on ABO-2203

Novartis announced a deal with China‑based Abogen Biosciences that could be worth up to $7.8 billion. The agreement includes an upfront payment of $575 million.

Under the deal, Abogen will provide Novartis with its RNA‑based drug‑making technology and grant an option to license the lead candidate, ABO‑2203, an mRNA‑encoded biologic that directs T cells to CD3 and CD19 targets.

Early data presented in April from a study of ABO‑2203 in patients with relapsed or refractory B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphoma showed the therapy was generally well‑tolerated, although three participants experienced serious adverse events that resolved during the trial.

The partnership gives Novartis a potential next‑generation T‑cell engager platform, while Abogen gains substantial funding to advance its RNA technology.