US: Arrowhead, Janssen sign US$3.7b license and collaboration deal

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has signed a license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment, ARO-HBV.

ARO-HBV is the third generation subcutaneously administered RNA interference (RNAi) therapy of Arrowhead being developed as a potential curative therapy for patients with chronic HBV infection.

The companies have also signed a research collaboration and option agreement for up to three additional RNAi therapeutics against new targets.

“An important objective within Janssen is to develop highly effective combination products that cure people living with chronic hepatitis B infections,” said Mathai Mammen, Global Head of Janssen Research & Development. “Working with the talented Arrowhead team and their RNAi therapy candidate adds to the strength of our hepatitis B portfolio and substantially increases our confidence that we can achieve our objective.”

The transactions are subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and expected to close in Q4 2018.

Full Content: PR Newswire

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