Janssen Boosts Multiple Myeloma R&D With Genmab Deal

30 Aug 2012

• By John Davis

Janssen Biotech has signed its second deal in less than two months with antibody discovery company Genmab, this time licensing the Danish company's potential first-in-class multiple myeloma therapy daratumumab for $55 million upfront and an equity investment.

Genmab AS has licensed its third clinical-stage asset, the anti-CD38 antibody and potential multiple myeloma therapy daratumumab (HuMax-CD38), to Janssen Biotech Inc. for $55 million (DKK 327 million) and an equity investment, which extends the cash runway of the Danish biotech to at least four years.

The agreement, announced Aug. 30, is the second signed between the two companies within two months, and has led Genmab,...