Novartis weighs deal for biotech Avidity to boost drug pipeline
Shares in rare disease biotech surge 26% following approach by Swiss group
Shares in rare disease biotech surge 26% following approach by Swiss group

Deal for specialist in rare diseases is biggest acquisition under chief executive Vas Narasimhan

Drugmaker nears $1.3bn deal in search for experimental medicines

California-based drugmaker takes advantage of surging share price to strike takeovers after a quiet couple of years

Deal comes as pharmaceutical groups rush to acquire smaller biotech firms with proven drug pipelines

San Diego company’s lead drug is a potential alternative to vaccines for vulnerable patients

Research organisations are banking on technology to help improve the odds of approval