Janssen, Pharmacyclics In Anti-Cancer Development Pact

J&J unit Janssen Biotech has entered an agreement with Pharmacyclics, Inc. to jointly develop and market the anti-cancer compound, PCI-32765. Several Phase I and II studies are ongoing across a panel of B-cell malignancy disorders, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The companies have entered into a worldwide 50/50 profit-loss agreement, sharing development and commercialization activities. Janssen has made an upfront payment of $150 million and will make additional payments based on certain development and regulatory milestones.

“The agreement with Pharmacyclics is an opportunity to bring a new form of oral therapy to patients with B-cell malignancies,” said William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D., global therapeutic head of Oncology for Janssen. ”PCI-32765 is an innovative compound, with broad applicability and the potential to help a large number of patients with B-cell malignancies.”