Novartis will pay $1.1 billion upfront to acquire Myricx Bio, betting on a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate payload class designed to tackle resistance mechanisms that can limit existing ADCs. The deal—up to $1.5 billion including up to $400 million in milestones—centers on Myricx’s N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor (NMTi) payload technology. Novartis said the first two programs are expected to enter clinical development before the end of the year. Myricx’s preclinical data were positioned around durable tumor regression at well-tolerated doses across solid tumor models, and Novartis’ interest is amplified by the competitive pressure to improve ADC therapeutic windows and overcome resistance. The acquisition adds another entry point for Novartis into the fast-growing ADC space, complementing its existing targeted oncology strategy while leveraging an external payload platform.