Novartis and Unnatural Products launched a research and licensing partnership to discover macrocyclic peptide therapeutics targeting cardiovascular disease and potentially undruggable proteins. Novartis will leverage UNP’s AI‑guided macrocycle platform and global development capabilities; financial terms include up to $1.8 billion in total value across programs. The collaboration begins with an undisclosed program and combines UNP’s integrated discovery engine—AI design, massively parallel synthesis and direct‑to‑biology screening—with Novartis’ clinical and commercialization scale. UNP positions macrocycles as a modality that combines biologic-like selectivity with small‑molecule drug‑like properties, while Novartis framed the deal as access to new target classes. The transactions include a $100 million upfront/pre‑IND payment structure in the initial announcements, representing a material upfront commitment for an AI‑driven discovery partner and signaling pharma appetite for modality‑diversification into constrained target spaces.