Novartis is to spend up to $1.1 billion to acquire Kate Therapeutics Inc, a San Diego, US-based company which is developing adeno-associated virus gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases. The deal value includes an upfront payment and potential milestone payments. The company’s technology platforms integrate capsid and cargo technologies that are expected to deliver payloads to the appropriate tissues while potentially mitigating off-target effects to tissues such as the liver.
