Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. has agreed to pay Locus Biosciences Inc. $20 million up front and up to $798 million in potential milestones plus royalties for exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize CRISPR/Cas3-enhanced bacteriophage products. The preclinical programs target two key bacterial pathogens for the treatment of respiratory tract and other infections. If proven safe and effective, they could "provide a turning point in the global battle against antibiotic-resistant infections," Locus said.