Novartis moved to acquire Avidity Biosciences in a roughly $12 billion deal, adding a trio of late-stage RNA-based programs targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. The company said the portfolio could unlock multibillion-dollar opportunities and accelerate product launches before 2030. The acquisition combines Novartis’ development and commercialization scale with Avidity’s RNA-delivery platform; regulators and investors will be watching clinical-pathway timing and integration risk.