Part 6/10:
The second major topic was Novartis's acquisition of AveXis for $9.8 billion—a notable transaction given that Novartis agreed to pay an 88% premium per share. AveXis is at the forefront of gene therapy, notably spearheading efforts to develop AVXS-101, which targets spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The acquisition drew attention due to the potential of gene therapy to revolutionize treatments by potentially offering one-time fixes for genetic disorders.
AVXS-101 is designed to address the root cause of SMA, which has historically been treated with ongoing therapies that merely alleviate symptoms. If successful, this innovative approach positions Novartis to capitalize on an unmet need in a market that already sees substantial revenue from existing SMA treatments.