Swiss pharmaceutical major Novartis AG is “nearing” a deal to acquire biotechnology company Avidity Biosciences Inc., according to a Bloomberg report citing sources.Novartis is in discussions to buy Avidity for more than $70 a share, the source said. The deal could be announced as early as on October 26 (US time), if there are no “last minute snags”, the report added.Spokespeople for both Avidity and Novartis did not immediately respond to queries on the matter. The report came outside of usual business hou ...