Protease form factor Xia (FXIa) is a therapeutic target for thrombosis prevention due to its well-known contribution to VTE and ischemic stroke in humans. Researchers from Janssen Pharmaceutica NV presented an antithrombotic target FXIa inhibitor obtained through a non-classical interactions strategy to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological activity for the treatment of thrombosis. In the series, the potency was increased by using water-mediated hydrogen bonds to reduce polar hydrogen bond donors and using methyl to displace high-energy waters.

Nanobiotix SA has landed Johnson & Johnson Inc. subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceutica NV as commercialization partner for NBTXR-3, a radioenhancer for boosting the effectiveness of standard radiotherapy, in a deal worth up to $1.86 billion for the initial indications. That headline figure covers current programs in head and neck cancers and lung cancers. There is the potential for Nanobiotix to earn up to $650 million more if Janssen decides to pursue up to five new indications that it will select, while for new indications that Nanobiotix selects to develop in alignment with Janssen, Nanobiotix will receive up to $220 million per program.

Pipeline Therapeutics Inc., which received U.S. FDA approval to move into a phase Ib/IIa study of PIPE-307 in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) last year, will be advancing the oral, small-molecule muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist in collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV in an agreement that could be worth more than $1 billion.