Listen to this articleJohnson & Johnson finalized its $3.05 billion acquisition of clinical-stage biotech Halda Therapeutics OpCo. Inc.
In a Dec. 29 press release announcing the closing, the New Brunswick-based pharmaceutical giant said the move will expand its presence in solid tumors and prostate cancer treatments.
New Haven-headquartered Halda was founded in 2019. The company developed a proprietary modality that employs a novel “hold and kill” mechanism for the precision treatment of cancer and other diseases.
As part of the transaction, J&J gains access to a once-daily oral therapy in development for prostate cancer, HLD-0915. It also takes on several experimental drugs for breast, lung and other types of tumors.
J&J Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman for Innovative Medicine Jennifer Taubert described the acquisition as a “strategic milestone.” She said it underscores the company’s “commitment to redefining cancer treatment with breakthrough science and transformative medicines.”
Genmab clinches $8B biotech deal
The Plainsboro-based biotech entered into an agreement to acquire all shares of Merus. The all-cash transaction would add a treatment for head and neck cancer to its pipeline. Keep reading.
“We are excited to formally welcome the talented Halda team to Johnson & Johnson and look forward to working together to achieve our shared goal of eliminating cancer,” she said.
John Reed is executive vice president of innovative medicine and R&D for J&J. “Johnson & Johnson continuously seeks new ways to meet patient needs and deliver innovative therapies,” he added.
Reed went on to say that the company can now focus on “advancing the potential of this promising pipeline of novel product candidates” as well as harnessing Halda’s platform “to discover more molecules in oncology and beyond.”
The announcement follows J&J’s $14.6 billion acquisition of Bedminster-based neurological drugmaker Intra-Cellular Therapies in April.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of J&J’s Caplyta last month as an add-on treatment for adults with major depressive disorder. The FDA’s latest move marked the first of a drug from the Intra-Cellular stable after the deal.
