Novo Nordisk to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals to expand cardiovascular portfolio

In a significant move within the pharmaceutical industry, Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals for up to 1.025 billion Euros. This strategic acquisition includes an upfront payment and additional payments contingent upon achieving specific development and commercial milestones. The deal underscores Novo Nordisk’s commitment to advancing the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally.

Novo Nordisk’s acquisition of Cardior Pharmaceuticals represents a pivotal development in its strategy to bolster its presence in the field of cardiovascular disease. By integrating Cardior, known for its innovative RNA-targeted therapies for heart disease, Novo Nordisk aims to enrich its portfolio with cutting-edge treatments designed to address the unmet needs in cardiovascular health. The deal highlights Novo Nordisk’s pursuit of both internal and external innovations to craft a focused and impactful array of therapies.

At the heart of this acquisition is Cardior’s lead compound, CDR132L, currently in phase 2 clinical development for heart failure treatment. CDR132L’s unique approach targets non-coding RNAs, aiming to prevent, repair, and potentially reverse cardiac dysfunctions. This innovative therapeutic strategy has shown promise, with phase 1b trials indicating safety, tolerability, and signs of functional improvement in heart failure patients. The ongoing phase 2 trial, HF-REVERT, further explores its efficacy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) post-myocardial infarction. Novo Nordisk’s plans to initiate an additional phase 2 trial for chronic heart failure patients highlight the potential of CDR132L as a disease-modifying therapy.

Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, noting, “By welcoming Cardior as a part of Novo Nordisk, we will strengthen our pipeline of projects in cardiovascular disease…especially on CDR132L, which has a distinctive mode of action and potential to become a first-in-class therapy.”

Claudia Ulbrich, MD, CEO and co-founder of Cardior, also remarked on the acquisition’s significance, stating, “Novo Nordisk is the ideal partner…to accelerate our late-stage development programme…We look forward to advancing CDR132L towards market approval.”

The acquisition of Cardior Pharmaceuticals by Novo Nordisk not only marks a significant milestone in the fight against cardiovascular diseases but also showcases the pharmaceutical industry’s shift towards innovative, RNA-targeted therapies. As the deal progresses towards completion in the second quarter of 2024, the healthcare community eagerly anticipates the advancements in heart disease treatment that may arise from this partnership.