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The basics:

• J&J to acquire Halda Therapeutics in $3.05B oncology-focused deal
• Acquisition adds prostate cancer therapy HLD-0915 and early-stage tumor candidates
• Strengthens J&J’s oncology pipeline and RIPTAC platform technology
• Deal expected to close within the next few months, pending approvals

Johnson & Johnson plans to acquire clinical-stage biotech Halda Therapeutics OpCo. Inc. in a deal worth $3.05 billion.

The New Brunswick-based pharma giant announced the agreement Nov. 17. The move will expand its presence in solid tumors and prostate cancer treatments.

Through the transaction, J&J will gain access to HLD-0915. The oral therapy is in early to mid-stage development for prostate cancer. J&J will also take on several early-stage experimental drugs for breast, lung and other types of tumors, the companies announced.

Founded in 2019, New Haven-headquartered Halda developed a proprietary modality that employs a novel “hold and kill” mechanism for the precision treatment of cancer and other diseases.

J&J expects the deal to close within the next few ⁠months.

In a statement, J&J Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman for Innovative Medicine Jennifer Taubert said, “This acquisition further strengthens our deep oncology pipeline with an exciting lead asset in prostate cancer and a platform capable of treating multiple cancers and diseases beyond oncology, providing a potential mid- and long-term catalyst for growth.”

“We look forward to combining Halda’s pipeline, platform and people with our world class R&D, commercial and manufacturing capabilities and advancing our goal of bringing these therapies to patients around the world,” she said.

This acquisition further strengthens our deep oncology pipeline with an exciting lead asset in prostate cancer and a platform capable of treating multiple cancers and diseases beyond oncology…
– Jennifer Taubert, Johnson & Johnson

Continuing commitment

J&J Executive Vice President of Innovative Medicine and R&D John Reed commented, “Many therapies lose effectiveness over time due to resistance. Halda’s innovative technology is designed to work even when cancers no longer respond to standard treatments using a novel mechanism that enables the selective killing of cancer cells.”

“Results seen with HLD-0915 demonstrate impressive preliminary efficacy and a strong early safety profile in prostate cancer. We are eager to accelerate the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of HLD-0915 and progress a pipeline of novel product candidates based on RIPTAC technology,” Reed went on.

Halda President and CEO Christian Schade reiterated his company’s commitment to developing “the next generation of selective, proximity-based small molecule therapeutics for patients with serious diseases.”

“Through this transaction, we will continue to rapidly develop this promising program for patients with prostate cancer and advance Halda’s innovative pipeline from its RIPTAC platform to address a range of diseases. This announcement is a tribute to the years of scientific effort to develop this novel, first-in-class modality and deliver significant value to our shareholders,” he said.

The announcement follows J&J’s $14.6 billion acquisition of Bedminster-based neurological drugmaker Intra-Cellular Therapies in April.

Earlier this month, U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of J&J’s Caplyta as an add-on treatment for adults with major depressive disorder. The FDA’s latest approval marks the first of a drug from the Intra-Cellular stable after the deal.