Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced Monday morning that it has acquired Cardiol Pharmaceuticals for up to $1.1 billion.

Cardior develops treatments that target RNA in heart disease. CDR132L, a heart failure treatment drug that is a promising candidate, will be acquired by Novo in the future.

CDR132L met safety and efficacy goals in a Phase 1b trial, with results showing improved cardiac function in heart failure patients compared to placebo.

The drug candidate is currently in a Phase 2 trial in 280 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who have had a previous heart attack. The trial “HF-REVERT” started in July 2022.

The company said in a statement that it sees early data as showing the potential of CDR132L to be a first-in-class therapy aimed at “stopping or partially reversing” the course of the disease in heart failure patients. He said there was.

Novo also plans to begin a Phase 2 clinical trial testing the drug in patients with chronic heart failure who have an enlarged heart.

The move further strengthens Novo’s goal to strengthen its cardiovascular pipeline, which is driven by the success of the company’s GLP-1 weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wigovy.

The popular weight loss treatment also shows evidence that it reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, which is why the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently recommended that patients with a history of anti-obesity drugs Authorized Medicare Part D plans to cover anti-obesity drugs. of heart disease.

The transaction is being funded by Novo with cash reserves, is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter.

Martin Horst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s vice president of development, said in a statement: “Having Cardiol as part of Novo Nordisk expands our pipeline of cardiovascular disease projects with programs already underway across all stages of clinical development. It will strengthen the line.”

Claudia Ulbrich, CEO and co-founder of Cardior, noted the drug’s “transformative potential” as a disease-modifying therapy for heart failure under Novo’s care, calling it an ideal partner going forward. Ta.

This acquisition adds to Novo’s existing cardiovascular pipeline. Its pipeline includes diltibekimab, a novel once-monthly monoclonal antibody currently in Phase 3 trials in heart failure patients with HFpEF.

Novo is also continuing to investigate whether semaglutide, the active ingredient in its GLP-1 drug, can be used to reduce the risk of heart disease.

So far, it’s promising. Last fall, the drug company reported that Wegovy reduced the risk of serious cardiovascular events by 20%.

The acquisition follows parent company Novo Holding’s major acquisition of Catalent earlier this year, valued at up to $16.5 billion, which saw Catalent acquire Novo Nordisk to ramp up production of Wegobee amid growing demand. Introduced fill-finish facilities in three locations.

In its Q4 2023 results released in January, Novo reported a 36% increase in 2023 sales at constant exchange rates (CER), with much of the increase driven by the success of Ozempic and Wegovy. Involved.