Scholar Rock to Collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Innovation to Discover and Develop Novel Biologics for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer
Scholar Rock, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for targeting the disease microenvironment, has signed a research collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation and its affiliate Janssen Biotech, Inc. to discover and develop novel biologic therapeutics that regulate signaling in the immune system by targeting the growth factor, TGF-beta 1.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Janssen Biotech to discover and develop novel biologics that target growth factor signaling in the immune system microenvironment, with the potential to have therapeutic effects specifically at the source of disease,” said Nagesh Mahanthappa, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Scholar Rock. “Although TGF-beta 1 has been actively pursued as a drug target, most current approaches encounter challenges in triggering systemic effects. Our technology is designed to take a new approach by targeting TGF-beta 1 niche activators locally.”
The research collaboration will focus on the discovery and development of novel biologics, called niche activators, to target TGF-beta 1 in the immune system microenvironment and offer a potential new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases and cancer immunotherapies. Immunologists from the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center and Janssen Biotech will work with Scholar Rock to therapeutically target the TGF-beta 1 activation mechanism by applying Scholar Rock’s proprietary technology platform. This platform builds upon the recent discoveries of Scholar Rock co-founder, Dr Timothy A. Springer, that have elucidated molecular mechanisms of growth factor activation in tissue microenvironments.
“We envision development of niche activators as a broad class of therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action,” said Timothy A. Springer, PhD, co-founder of Scholar Rock and Latham Family Professor at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston. “This collaboration exploits new understanding of growth factor biology in the microenvironment in order to create novel therapeutics with the potential to maximise action at the site of disease, and offer a new approach for debilitating diseases with limited treatment options.”
Under the agreement, Janssen Biotech, Inc. obtains a worldwide exclusive option to license, develop and commercialize biologic therapeutics resulting from the alliance with Scholar Rock. Scholar Rock will receive research support, and is eligible to receive option payments, pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory milestone payments. Scholar Rock may also receive royalties and commercial milestones on product sales for each product advanced.
Related News
-
News Women in Pharma: Moving beyond discussions and into best practice at CPHI Milan
In this second CPHI Milan special of our monthly series, we cover the key takeaways from the Diversity & Wellbeing track held on October 10, 2024. -
News AstraZeneca invests in AI collaboration for cancer drug trials
The British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant is partnering with biotechnology firm Immunai Inc to increase the efficiency of some cancer drug trials. -
News Ozempic and Wegovy prices questioned as Novo Nordisk faces US Senate hearing
The CEO of Novo Nordisk was grilled during a US Senate committee hearing on September 24, 2024, in which the exorbitant prices of the Danish company’s blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy were called into question. -
News The BIOSECURE Act: implications for the pharma supply chain
On September 9, 2024, the US House of Representatives voted to pass the bill titled the BIOSECURE Act (the Act), which lists several Chinese companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The Act will prohibit American companies from contracting or doin... -
News On Track at CPHI Milan: Thermo Fisher Scientific Track Sponsor interview
With CPHI Milan just around the corner, we sat down with some of the sponsors for this year’s conference tracks to discuss the most pressing topics in pharma. -
News CPHI Milan Speaker Spotlight: Pharma Manufacturing and Localisation in Africa
In the run-up to CPHI Milan, we sit down with some of the experts and thought-leaders speaking at this year’s conferences. -
News US BIOSECURE Act passed by US House of Representatives
The controversial act, which has already impacted several foreign companies operating in the US, was passed by the House of Representatives on September 9, 2024. It is now headed for the US Senate before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden... -
News Eli Lilly licenses rheumatoid arthritis manufacturing in Africa
American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has signed a partnership with Egyptian organisation Eva Pharma to localise manufacturing of rheumatoid arthritis treatments in Africa.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance