Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC today announced 15 new collaborations spanning promising scientific areas, including 3D printing, the microbiome and immunotherapy. These collaborations, which are focused on developing novel healthcare solutions in areas of high unmet need such as depression, cancer and diabetes, bring the total number of strategic transactions to more than 300 since the establishment of Johnson & Johnson Innovation.
"We continue to pursue transformative healthcare solutions and form collaborations that explore the cutting edge of scientific research to achieve our primary goal of improving the quality of patients' lives," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson. "Through Johnson & Johnson Innovation, we are committed to identifying and advancing novel solutions in areas of significant need and creating customized deal structures with innovators in an effort to accelerate products to market."
The new collaborations announced today by Johnson & Johnson Innovation include investments, out licensing and strategic deals for improving patient outcomes. These deals include:
Cutting-Edge Drug, Device and Digital Technologies
Eyeing a Promising NASH Treatment - NASH is an obesity related global epidemic with no approved treatments that is rapidly becoming the leading cause of liver transplantation. Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is a promising drug target due to its involvement in the key mechanisms of the disease. CB1 also shows promise as a target in diabetic kidney disease, another area of great unmet medical need. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has entered into a collaboration and option agreement with Bird Rock Bio, which is evaluating a CB1-targeting antibody, namacizumab, in a Phase 1 study. Janssen will collaborate with Bird Rock Bio during the trial and has the exclusive right to acquire the company following the Phase 1 data readout.
3D Printing the Knee Meniscus - Tearing your meniscus, the "shock absorber" of your knee, is one of the most common knee injuries, and incidence could rise with an aging population. Surgical treatment of a torn meniscus may involve partial or complete removal which is associated with increased incidence of osteoarthritis. DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. has formed a collaboration with Aspect Biosystems to develop a prototype artificial meniscus using Aspect's proprietary Lab-on-a-Printer™ 3D printing technology that could benefit patients post-surgery.
Developing Better Depression Treatments - As many as two thirds of people with major depressive disorder fail to respond to current antidepressants. In addition, these medicines can take up to six weeks to work. Janssen Pharmacueticals, Inc. has formed a research, option and license agreement with Amorsa Therapeutics, Inc. to use their proprietary ketamine analog technology. Under the collaboration, the companies plan to develop new antidepressants with rapid onset of action for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
RNA-Based Therapies for Infectious Diseases, Cancers - Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V. has entered into a collaboration with Synthetic Genomics, Inc, to develop a ribonucleic acid (RNA) technology that enables a tuneable, multigenic approach to elicit desired antigen expression and immune response for a variety of applications. The aim of this technology is to enable the development of RNA-based therapies and vaccines that enhance and fine tune immune response against specific infectious diseases and cancer.
Developing the First Personalized Baby Sleep Coaching System - Around the world, improving baby sleep is a leading concern for parents. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., through its JOHNSON'S® BEDTIME® Baby Sleep App, and Rest Devices, Inc., through the Mimo Baby wearable monitor, have each studied sleep patterns for hundreds of thousands of babies. The companies have formed a collaboration to combine expert coaching and analytics into one app, called Nod, providing parents with an advanced sleep coaching system that helps babies sleep more soundly. Nod will be released in February 2017.
Innovation Through External Value Creation
Improving Prediction of Immunotherapy Success - Immunotherapy has become one of the mo...
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