Novartis (NVS) has entered into an additional collaboration with Argo Biopharmaceutical for multiple cardiovascular assets in Argo's pipeline, Argo said Wednesday.

Argo said the new collaboration will allow it to receive a $160 million upfront payment while also becoming eligible for potential milestone and option payments of up to $5.2 billion, as well as tiered royalties from commercial sales.

The new collaboration includes an agreement to investigate Argo's mid-stage ANGPTL3 in a combination trial in dyslipidemia, with an option to license second-generation molecules in the pipeline, Argo said.

The new partnership also includes license to an additional Argo siRNA candidate that is currently in IND-enabling studies, Argo said.

Argo also said Novartis has expressed its non-binding intention to participate in Argo's next round of equity financing.

This latest collaboration builds on both companies' prior partnership, which was reported in January of last year, for $185 million upfront, over $4 billion in milestones, and a blended royalty and commercial structure in select territories, Argo said.