$20 Million Launch! Novartis Partners with Lindi Bio, $934 Million Hangs in the Balance

Novartis has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement with Lindy Biosciences to further optimize the delivery of biologics. Lindy Biosciences, Inc., a North Carolina-based biotech leader, will deliver biologics by subcutaneous injection (SC), enabling patients to self-administer them in a home setting. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will advance $20 million to Lindy Biosciences as initial capital for the collaboration.

Further, Lindy Biosciences will be eligible to receive up to $934 million in additional proceeds upon the achievement of certain regulatory, development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties based on net sales. Deborah Bitterfield, Chief Executive Officer of Lindy Biosciences, expressed her joy at deepening the partnership with Novartis, emphasizing that the partnership represents a shared commitment to improving the quality of patient care and marks an important milestone in the first clinical application of Lindy Biosciences' formulation technology.

Typically, antibody therapy needs to be administered intravenously in a clinical setting, which is costly and inconvenient for patients. Through this collaboration, Novartis has obtained exclusive rights to Lindy Biosciences' flagship microvitrification technology. The technology is able to convert biologic drugs into stable micron-scale glass particles, ensuring a high concentration and stability of the drug, thereby improving the stability of the drug, reducing the injection dose, and allowing a more convenient delivery route.

Novartis has extensive experience in the field of self-use injectables and there are several Novartis brand self-use injectables on the market. However, the company is always exploring more patient-friendly treatments, especially those that allow patients to self-administer at home. Lindy Biosciences believes its technology will help reduce healthcare costs while improving patient comfort, convenience and treatment compliance.