Novartis Advances Pipeline and Redefines Distribution with Tourmaline Acquisition and DTP Platform

Novartis announced on Sept. 29, 2025 that it has initiated a tender offer to acquire US-based Tourmaline Bio, filed through Torino Merger Sub Inc., an indirect wholly owned Novartis subsidiary. The tender offer advances Novartis’ previously announced merger plan (1,2). In parallel with the tender offer, Novartis also announced the launch of a direct-to-patient (DTP) platform in the United States beginning Nov. 1, 2025. The platform will provide secukinumab (brand name Cosentyx) at a 55% discount off list price for cash-paying patients (3).

What does Novartis get with the Tourmaline acquisition?

The Tourmaline acquisition positions Novartis to expand its immunology and inflammation pipeline, an area for which Tourmaline has been developing therapies. With the acquisition, Novartis gains Tourmaline’s pacibekitug, an anti-interleukin 6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody (mAb), in development as a treatment option for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The mAb complements Novartis’ cardiovascular strategy by targeting IL-6, which is a key upstream cytokine that promotes systemic inflammation. The addition of this drug to Novartis’ pipeline provides the opportunity to address a critical unmet need.

Such pipeline consolidation can accelerate access to late-stage clinical programs while also raising questions about how manufacturing priorities shift when portfolios are integrated. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025 (2).

Why does the DTP platform launch matter?

The parallel launch of Novartis’ DTP platform represents a significant cash savings for patients taking secukinumab. Under the brand name Cosentyx, secukinumab is Novartis’ top-selling biologic in the US. It is approved to treat psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Since its launch in 2015, the mAb has been used by more than 1.8 million patients worldwide (3).

“Breakthrough innovation is what drives us at Novartis, in scientific research, medicine development, and in the ways in which we deliver our innovation to patients,” said Victor Bultó, president, US, Novartis, in a company press release (3). “In the US, we have long recognized that we need new ways to reach patients more directly by removing barriers in the system. The launch of this new platform is a first step as we continue to work toward solutions to provide our net prices more directly to patients and make the healthcare system work better for Americans.”

The platform represents a proof-of-concept for direct sales of specialty medicines, aiming to bypass traditional intermediaries such as insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. Beyond secukinumab, Novartis plans to expand the model to other medicines in its portfolio. The company is also exploring a direct-to-employer channel. For biopharmaceutical drug developers, this signals potential shifts in distribution models that could reshape manufacturing logistics, pricing strategies, and supply chain design.

What are the bigger implications of these moves for biopharma manufacturing and development?

Together, these moves highlight Novartis’ dual focus—strengthening its therapeutic pipeline through acquisition while simultaneously experimenting with new commercialization and distribution models. For the broader industry, the company’s strategies reflect ongoing pressures to both innovate in drug development and rethink how therapies reach patients.

For biopharma manufacturers, integrating Tourmaline’s assets could mean scaling production of novel biologics, while the direct-to-patient platform could require adjustments in packaging, distribution, and real-time supply management. These developments underscore the increasing intersection between corporate strategy and the operational realities of drug production and delivery.

References

1. Novartix. Novartis Announces Commencement of Tender Offer to Acquire Tourmaline Bio. Press Release. Sept. 29, 2025.
2. Novartis. Novartis to Acquire Tourmaline Bio, Complementing Cardiovascular Pipeline with Pacibekitug for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). Press Release. Sept. 9, 2025.
3. Novartis. Novartis to Launch Direct-to-Patient Platform for Cosentyx (secukinumab) in the US. Press Release. Sept. 29, 2025.