Novartis agreed to pay Antares Therapeutics $105 million upfront under a small-molecule discovery pact aimed at historically “undruggable” cancer targets. The collaboration is structured as a milestone-heavy deal that could reach up to $1.9 billion, according to the announcement. Antares will work alongside Novartis to generate small-molecule candidates for multiple cancer targets that have resisted conventional medicinal chemistry approaches. The pact builds on similar discovery partnerships in oncology, where companies are seeking chemical matter for target classes lacking robust druggability. For Novartis, the deal expands its search for new oncology assets as the company continues pipeline diversification beyond established modalities and targets.