Novartis to Buy Regulus Therapeutics for as Much as $1.7 Billion

Novartis AG agreed to buy US biotech Regulus Therapeutics Inc. in a deal that could be valued at up to $1.7 billion.

The Swiss company will pay $7 a share in cash upfront through a subsidiary, equivalent to $800 million, according to a statement Wednesday.

Regulus Therapeutics shareholders will also receive a so-called contingent value right, which entitles them to a further $900 million if regulatory approval is secured for farabursen, which seeks to treat patients living with ADPKD, the most common genetic cause of renal failure.

Novartis is hunting for deals that could boost its sales beyond 2025, Chief ...