J&J banks on Achillion for leg up in next-generation hep C drug race

Achillion has ended speculation (some of it self-generated) that it is fending off potential acquisitors from within the hepatitis C space by signing a significant collaboration with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit. J&J will be hoping that the deal catapults it to the front of the pack in the development of ultra-short-duration, pan-genotypic hepatitis C treatments.