Novartis Signs $7.8 Billion mRNA Licensing Deal With China's Abogen

Novartis AG will pay up to approximately $7.8 billion to license an experimental RNA-based therapy from Chinese biotech Abogen, the company said on October 2, 2026, marking one of the largest China-to-West pharma licensing deals this year. Under the agreement, Novartis receives exclusive rights to ABO2203, an experimental drug targeting B cells to treat autoimmune diseases including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Novartis also gains options to license additional medicines developed on Abogen's RNA platform. Abogen will receive $575 million upfront, with up to $7.2 billion in additional payments contingent on development milestones and regulatory approvals. The deal underscores growing Western pharmaceutical interest in China's mRNA and RNA therapeutics sector, following similar licensing agreements by multinational drugmakers seeking to replenish pipeline assets.