Novartis has entered into a four-year partnership with ProFound Therapeutics Inc of the US to explore the vast domain of proteins contained in the human proteome in order to find new targets for cardiovascular medicines. Announced on 26 June, the collaboration will entail an upfront payment of $25 million with potential near-term milestone payments of $750 million for each target selected. ProFound was founded in 2020 by Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge, US-based venture capital group. In a statement, Fiona Marshall, president of biomedical research at Novartis, said the company is excited to collaborate in order to explore under-researched biology, uncover new mechanisms, and translate pioneering science into life-changing treatments.
The human proteome encompasses all of the proteins produced by the human genome, including various forms and modifications, representing a complex set of molecules essential for life. In 2014, the journal Nature published a draft map of the human proteome. Efforts are ongoing to identify and validate proteins across various tissues and cell types. ProFound has tapped into this project by creating an atlas of data. This database catalogues tens of thousands of novel proteins and describes their functionality, connectivity and roles in health and disease. Among the company’s findings are new immune modulators, regulators of disease targets, and genetic drivers of disease.
Under the collaboration, the two companies will mine the atlas for targets specific to cardiovascular disease. Novartis’s leading cardiovascular drug is Entresto for heart failure which generated $2.3 billion in sales in the 2025 first quarter, up by 20% from a year earlier. The company is also focusing on medicines for atrial fibrillation and atherosclerosis. In March, it strengthened its cardiovascular portfolio with the acquisition of Anthos Therapeutics Inc for $3.08 billion. Anthos is working on treatments in thrombosis and anticoagulation. At the time of the acquisition, Novartis said it was looking to address unmet needs in stroke prevention and anticoagulation therapy.
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