Novartis has agreed to acquire Excellergy, Inc., a private biotech developing next-generation anti-IgE therapies, for up to $2 billion in upfront and milestone payments. The deal’s lead asset, Exl-111, is a half-life extended, high-affinity anti-IgE antibody currently in Phase 1 development.
Fiona Marshall, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis, said Exl-111 “is designed to go beyond conventional anti-IgE therapy, with potential to deliver faster and deeper suppression of IgE signaling.” Unlike conventional approaches, the antibody dissociates receptor-bound IgE to drive faster receptor downregulation. Preclinical evidence and early human pharmacokinetic data suggest potential applications across food allergy, chronic spontaneous urticaria, allergic asthma, and other IgE-mediated conditions, including in pediatric populations.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, contingent on regulatory approvals and customary conditions. The deal reinforces Novartis’s strategy of building leadership in allergy and immunology through targeted acquisitions of innovative therapeutic platforms.