Novartis signed a multi-asset licensing and option agreement with Argo Biopharma worth up to $5.2 billion, gaining rights to siRNA candidates targeting severe hypertriglyceridemia and mixed dyslipidemia. The upfront payment amounted to $160 million, with plans for phased clinical trials moving forward. This deal follows prior licensing of a Phase I/IIa asset and includes shared profit and loss options in key territories. The collaboration aims to augment Novartis's cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic pipeline utilizing RNA interference technologies.