LONDON — Novartis on Tuesday said it would buy Tourmaline Bio in a deal worth roughly $1.4 billion, picking up an experimental drug that has shown potential in cardiovascular disease.

The Swiss pharma said it would pay $48 a share for New York-based Tourmaline, a 59% premium on the biotech’s closing price of about $30 on Monday.

The centerpiece of the deal is pacibekitug, a drug being tested in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other heart conditions. Mid-stage trial data released in May showed the drug led to deep reductions in a level of inflammation tied to heart disease.

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