Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals for $6.5 Billion to Strengthen Autoimmune Disease Pipeline

Source | Jike Pharmaceutical News

On August 19, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals, a company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies for immune-mediated diseases, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.5 billion. Under the terms of the transaction approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Vigor Sub, a newly established wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, will commence a tender offer. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2020.

This acquisition will expand Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, in its leadership position in immune-mediated diseases. The transaction will include the full global rights to nipocalimab (M281), a clinically validated anti-FCRn antibody with potential best-in-class status. Janssen has the opportunity to advance the development of nipocalimab for indications across multiple autoimmune diseases, including maternal-fetal disorders, neuroinflammatory conditions, rheumatology, dermatology, and autoimmune hematologic disorders, all of which currently have significant unmet medical needs. Nipocalimab recently received orphan drug designation from the U.S. FDA. In addition to Momenta’s employees and its key asset, nipocalimab, Janssen will also acquire Momenta’s clinical and preclinical assets.

Autoimmune diseases driven partially or completely by autoantibodies represent a new field in which Janssen can significantly improve patient health outcomes. In autoantibody-driven diseases, the body’s antibodies attack or destroy its own proteins, cells, and tissues, often causing devastating consequences. Autoantibody-driven diseases include myasthenia gravis, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, as well as other severe dermatological, rheumatologic, neurological, hematologic, and renal disorders. It is estimated that 2.5% of the global population, approximately 195 million people, suffer from some form of autoantibody-driven disease, many of which are rare diseases.

References:

[1] Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Expanding Janssen's Leadership in Novel Treatments for Autoimmune Diseases. Retrieved 2020-08-19, from https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/johnson-and-amp-johnson-to-acquire-momenta-pharmaceuticals-inc-expanding-janssen-s-leadership-in-novel-treatments-for-autoimmune-diseases/?s=62

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