Johnson & Johnson signs collaboration with Orexa

Johnson & Johnson and Orexo have signed a collaboration to develop two of Orexa’s preclinical programs, which target pathways involved in arachidonic acid metabolism. As part of the agreement Orexa will get an up-front payment of $10 million and will get another $11.5 million in research funding. Johnson also has the option of putting a third compound into the deal. Orexo could earn another $564 million in development milestones, as well as undisclosed sales milestones and royalties for each program. Johnson’s move to include a compound of its own in the alliance, is unusual, and is a reflection of Orexo’s expertise in arachidonic acid metabolism it gained that through its 2007 acquisition of Biolipox AB, a spinout from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Advertisement