ARTICLE | Product Development
With Sail deal, J&J becomes latest pharma to pursue multiple in vivo CAR T approaches
J&J’s $785M deal with Flagship’s Sail adds circular RNA to its existing lentiviral strategy
July 30, 2026 11:33 PM UTC
Johnson & Johnson’s deal with Sail Biomedicines marks the fourth time a pharma has invested in multiple in vivo CAR T platforms, reflecting a growing view that different technologies may be best suited to different indications.
On Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced a collaboration and option agreement with Flagship Pioneering company Sail Biomedicines Inc. to develop circular RNA-based in vivo CAR Ts for autoimmune diseases. It is the pharma’s second deal in the modality, following a 2025 collaboration with Kelonia Therapeutics Inc., before that biotech was acquired by AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN)...