In another move to strengthen its immuno-oncology pipeline, Novartis has agreed to partner with BeiGene to develop and commercialise a PD-1 inhibitor, tislelizumab. The deal, which is worth up to US$2.2 B, comes five months after Novartis’ own PD-1 inhibitor, spartalizumab, failed to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase III trial for patients with advanced BRAF V600 melanoma.