Johnson & Johnson Bolsters Its Oncology Pipeline With Nanobiotix Radiotherapy Pact

Nanobiotix NBTX shares are trading higher after the company announced a global licensing, co-development, and commercialization agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a unit of Johnson & Johnson JNJ, for the investigational radioenhancer NBTXR3.

Johnson & Johnson has bolstered its oncology pipeline with the licensing agreement for the drug designed to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy for solid tumors.

Janssen will pay $60 million in upfront fees and funding for an exclusive worldwide license.

NBTXR3 has been approved in Europe as Hensify as a treatment for locally-advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

NBTXR3 is currently being evaluated in several studies across solid tumor indications, including NANORAY-312 Phase 3 study for locally advanced head and neck cancer. 

NBTXR3 is also being evaluated for its potential as a systemic agent in combination with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with metastatic cancers.

Janssen will pay up to $30 million to complete NANORAY-132 as part of its upfront support. It has also pledged up to $1.8 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones in head and neck cancer.

The agreement also includes additional potential milestone payments of up to $650 million for five new indications that Janssen may develop at its sole discretion; and of up to $220 million per indication that Nanobiotix may develop in alignment with Janssen.

Price Action: NBTX shares are up 36.10% at $7.10 on the last check Monday.