Johnson & Johnson Acquires Proteologix, Inc. to Advance Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma Therapies

On May 16, 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire PROTEOLOGIX, INC., a biotechnology company focused on researching bispecific antibodies for immune-mediated diseases, for $850 million in cash, with potential additional milestone payments in the future.

Proteologix's pipeline includes PX128 and PX130. PX128 is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-13 and TSLP, intended for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and moderate-to-severe asthma, with Phase I clinical trials ready to commence. PX130 is a bispecific antibody targeting IL-13 and IL-22, intended for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, currently in the preclinical stage. Since atopic dermatitis and asthma are heterogeneous diseases with complex etiologies and different pathogenic pathways in various patient subgroups, targeting multiple pathways has the potential to achieve greater efficacy and relief.

PX128 can inhibit IL-13-mediated Th2 skin inflammation, an important pathogenic pathway in atopic dermatitis and asthma, and PX128 can also suppress TSLP (a tissue inflammatory mediator in atopic dermatitis and asthma). Similar to PX128, PX130 can also inhibit IL-13-mediated Th2 skin inflammation. PX130 can further inhibit IL-22, thereby restoring the skin barrier and preventing inflammation triggered by environmental factors such as allergens. Both drugs are designed for less frequent dosing, enhancing patient convenience in treatment. The inclusion of these new pipelines demonstrates Johnson & Johnson's strategy to build a differentiated and complementary bispecific antibody portfolio targeting multiple pathogenic pathways.

David Lee, Global Head of Immunology at Johnson & Johnson, stated, "Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disease, affecting over 100 million adults worldwide. Currently, about 70% of patients receiving standard treatment fail to achieve disease remission. [1] Existing advanced therapies for atopic dermatitis can either only inhibit a single pathogenic pathway with limited efficacy or lead to significant safety concerns due to broad, non-specific immunosuppression. As bispecific antibodies, PX128 and PX130 each target a combination of two different pathways that cause skin inflammation in heterogeneous subgroups of atopic dermatitis patients, which leads us to believe they have the potential to achieve better therapeutic outcomes."

In addition to PX128 and PX130, this acquisition will also provide Johnson & Johnson with bispecific antibody programs applicable to more diseases, further enhancing the company's ability to develop novel bispecific programs.

Candice Long, Global Vice President of Immunology at Johnson & Johnson, stated, "Integrating Proteologix's bispecific antibodies into Johnson & Johnson's product pipeline is an important first step in fulfilling our commitment to patients with atopic dermatitis. We will continue to focus on developing more targeted therapeutic products, providing longer-lasting, symptom-free disease remission for patients with autoimmune diseases, and truly bringing them profound and lasting recovery and well-being."

Editor: Mu Mian

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