Novartis announced on January 13, 2026 that it has entered into a worldwide license agreement with Zonsen PepLib Biotech Inc. for a peptide‑based radioligand therapy (RLT) asset. The deal grants Novartis exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the asset globally, adding a new targeted cancer therapy to its growing RLT portfolio.
The agreement expands Novartis’s RLT capabilities beyond its existing products, Pluvicto and Lutathera, by introducing a peptide‑based modality that can target a broader range of tumor types. By acquiring this platform, Novartis positions itself to address unmet needs in oncology and to capture new patient populations that may benefit from peptide‑directed radiotherapy.
Financially, PepLib will receive an upfront payment of $50 million, with additional development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments to be paid as the program progresses. PepLib will also earn tiered royalties on future global net sales, creating a long‑term revenue stream for the biotech partner while allowing Novartis to leverage its deep RLT expertise to advance the asset.
Management commentary underscores the strategic fit: Novartis Global Head of Oncology, Shiva Malek, said the asset “complements our industry‑leading efforts to advance promising next‑generation RLTs and builds on our pipeline of innovative therapies for people living with cancer.” PepLib Chairman Lei Chen added that the partnership “provides Novartis with the expertise and resources needed to translate our early work into a potential medicine for patients.”
The deal strengthens Novartis’s leadership in the rapidly growing RLT market, which is projected to reach $25 billion by 2030. By adding a peptide‑based platform, Novartis gains a new therapeutic modality that could generate significant future revenue as the asset moves through development and commercialization, while also reinforcing its manufacturing and supply‑chain capabilities in the RLT space.
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