Johnson & Johnson in Advanced Talks to Acquire Protagonist Therapeutics for Over $5.4 Billion

It is reported that the handoverThe details of the deal have yet to be finalized and are expected to consolidate Johnson & Johnson's existing partnership with the California-based company.

Insiders said that the final agreement could not be guaranteed, and the transaction terms under discussion could not be obtained.

A potential deal is expected to far exceedProtagonist's market value, including a transaction premium, and drive Johnson & Johnson's immunology and cancer drug portfolio through two experimental drugs.

The merger of two companiesFor DevelopmentOral CyclopeptideIL-23 InhibitorOral IL-23 CyclopeptideicotrokinraAn oral therapy for treating immune diseases, including plaque psoriasis and ulcerative colitis, Johnson & Johnson holds the exclusive license for commercializing this product.

Johnson & Johnson's Stelara（Ustekinumab Injection) Recently inThe United States has lost its patent exclusivity, and the company submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA in July, seekingicotrokinraApproval for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Through the previous cooperation deal, Johnson & Johnson already ownsProtagonist 4% of the shares, Johnson & Johnson is expected to receiveRusfertide, co-developed by Protagonist and Takeda.

RusfertideIt is an innovative hepcidin mimetic peptide that precisely regulates iron metabolism by mimicking the action of hepcidin in the body.InAdvanced ErythrocytosisShowed potential in.

ProtagonistThe company's share price has more than doubled this year, including a 45% surge in March, thanks toRusfertideLate-stage trials for the treatment of polycythemia vera have achieved encouraging success.