Novartis buys IFM Due for immune drugs

Novartis has acquired IFM Due, a subsidiary of IFM Therapeutics, for $90 million up front and milestone payments that could be worth $745 million. The deal grants Novartis rights to IFM Due’s full collection of stimulators of interferon genes (STING) antagonists in development. The small molecules target the innate immune system and address rare, inflammation-driven diseases like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. The class of drug candidates could also target more common diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, IFM Due says.