JNJ Terminates NASH Program Pact With Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc ARWR received written notice from Janssen, a unit of Johnson & Johnson JNJ, to terminate their rights to JNJ-75220795, now called ARO-PNPLA3, under the October 2018 research collaboration and option agreement.
The companies are working to transition the program and associated data to Arrowhead.
ARO-PNPLA3 is an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic developed using Arrowhead's proprietary TRiM platform and designed to reduce liver expression of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
ARO-PNPLA3 is currently in Phase 1 clinical study.
After a single dose in Phase 1 clinical study, ARO-PNPLA3 showed a dose-dependent mean reduction in liver fat of up to 40% in patients homozygous for the I148M mutation.
No apparent treatment-emergent increases in triglycerides or LDL cholesterol.
In 2021, Arrowhead announced a deal with GSK plc GSK, under which GSK will develop and market Arrowhead's potential treatment for patients with fatty liver disease NASH.
At that time, the drug candidate ARO-HSD is currently in an early-to-mid stage trial for NASH.
Price Action: ARWR shares are down 0.83% at $33.39 on the last check Wednesday.