(CercleFinance.com) – GSK and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals announced today that they have entered into an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to transfer exclusive worldwide rights for the further development and commercialization of JNJ-3989 (a drug experimental targeting the hepatitis B virus) at GSK.
As a reminder, JNJ-3989 (formerly ARO-HBV) was sublicensed by Janssen to Arrowhead in 2018.
GSK plans to evaluate JNJ-3989 as part of a regimen including bepirovirsen (an investigational oligonucleotide from GSK), for the treatment of adult patients with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
According to GSK, JNJ-3989 has the potential to immediately proceed to a phase II trial in a sequential design, combined with bepirovirsen.
Upon closing of the transaction, GSK will assume the rights and obligations of the existing licensing agreement between Janssen and Arrowhead, including all remaining financial obligations owed to Arrowhead for JNJ-3989 under the original agreement.
GSK will be responsible for potential upfront and milestone payments to both Janssen and Arrowhead, totaling approximately $1 billion.
Janssen will continue to be responsible for ongoing clinical trials of JNJ-3989 at its own expense, and GSK will be solely responsible for all future development and commercialization activities.
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