Blackstone Group and Novartis formed a new JV company, Anthos Therapeutics, a new biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing next-generation targeted therapies for high-risk cardiovascular patients. As part of this launch, Novartis has licensed to Anthos MAA868, an antibody directed at Factor XI and XIa, key components of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Financial terms were not disclosed. “The need for new medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases is clear, and this agreement is part of our strategy to work with innovators outside our walls to advance medicines that have the potential to have a positive impact for patients,” said Jay Bradner, MD, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. “Blackstone Life Sciences has the necessary experience and has assembled a first-class team at Anthos to drive the further development of MAA868.”