BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Vertex licenses influenza candidate to Janssen

June 19, 2014 12:56 AM UTC

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) granted the Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. unit of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Vertex's VX-787, which has completed a Phase IIa trial to treat influenza A. Vertex will receive $30 million up front and is eligible for undisclosed development and commercialization milestones, plus royalties. VX-787 is an oral polymerase inhibitor that directly disrupts replication in influenza A viruses. Vertex also granted Janssen rights to backup compounds for VX-787. ...