In its largest business acquisition to date, Novo Nordisk has pledged up to US$2.1 B to acquire Corvidia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company focused on cardio-renal therapeutics. The move gives Novo access to Corvidia’s lead candidate, ziltivekimab, a clinical-stage monoclonal antibody in development to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular adverse events in patients with chronic kidney disease who have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and inflammation. A patent for one of Novo’s best selling drugs, Novolog® (insulin aspart), has now expired, leaving the company eager to fill the void amid generic competition.