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news.Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals has acquired XO1 Limited, a privately held asset-centric virtual biopharmaceutical firm focused on developing the anti-thrombin antibody ichorcumab.
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Ichorcumab is developed to mimic the activity of a human antibody which appears to produce an anticoagulated state without predisposition to bleeding.
The acquisition of was identified and facilitated through Johnson & Johnson Innovation, London.
Janssen Research & Development global development head Cardiovascular Peter DiBattiste said: "Ichorcumab provides an excellent complement to the Janssen cardiovascular portfolio.
"Given Janssen’s leadership in the fields of anticoagulation and biologics, we are well positioned to explore the potential of this next generation anticoagulant."
Initially, ichorcumab was developed by Cambridge University Hospitals and Cambridge University with support from the university’s commercialization arm Cambridge Enterprise.
Ichorcumab was licensed by Cambridge Enterprise to XO1 in order to take its development towards the clinic.
Johnson & Johnson Innovation head Patrick Verheyen said: "This acquisition illustrates how our global innovation strategy enables a local, hands-on approach that supports the regional life science ecosystems, provides Janssen a window on the most exciting science around the world and provides access to potentially breakthrough products in areas of strategic interest."