Novartis agreed to pay $1.1 billion upfront to acquire UK biotech Myricx Bio, adding an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payload platform designed to address limitations seen with existing small-molecule payloads. The deal also includes potential milestone payments of up to $400 million, extending Novartis’ recent push into oncology modalities beyond its traditional focus areas. Myricx is developing ADCs that use N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor (NMTi) payloads. Novartis’ rationale is that NMTi payloads could help overcome resistance and broaden ADC utility across multiple solid-tumor targets. Myricx and collaborators report NMTis selectively eliminate senescent cells that can facilitate tumor progression. Preclinical work highlighted programs directed to HER2, TROP2, and B7-H3, with the company selecting B7-H3 and HER2 as lead candidates. Novartis framed the platform as a potential new class of ADC payload—aiming to improve outcomes versus incumbent ADCs or carve out settings where current payloads face bottlenecks.