On Tuesday, J&J finalized a deal to obtain the rights to an innovative treatment for skin conditions from Numab Therapeutics, a privately held company, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.25 billion, marking its second significant agreement this month focused on addressing eczema.
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to purchase a subsidiary of Numab, supported by Novo Nordisk’s parent company, to obtain the licensing rights to an innovative therapy for eczema, a skin condition also referred to as atopic dermatitis.
J&J recently acquired drug developer Proteologix for $850 million, with a focus on a disease that impacts 30 million individuals in the United States annually.
J&J, which has shifted its attention to medical devices and pharmaceuticals, has made significant agreements this year in anticipation of upcoming competition from biosimilars for the popular psoriasis medication Stelara, which is expected to be available in 2025.
In the previous month, the company announced that it has ample room to explore various deal options following its agreement to acquire Shockwave Medical, a manufacturer of cardiovascular devices, in a massive $13.1 billion deal.
The Numab deal is anticipated to be completed in the latter part of 2024.
Numab’s NM26 medication has just finished a preliminary clinical study. This treatment falls under the bi-specific antibodies, engineered proteins capable of simultaneously addressing two distinct biological mechanisms involved in a disease.
Atopic dermatitis is a long-lasting skin condition characterized by inflammation that harms the skin’s protective barrier, resulting in dryness, itching, and an increased risk of skin infections.
