$1.6 billion! Johnson and Johnson have teamed up with Argenx on immuno-oncology to develop the immuno-checkpoint CD70 inhibitor cusatu.

Argenx is a clinical biotech company focused on developing innovative therapy depth pipelines based on differentiated antibodies for the treatment of serious autoimmune diseases and cancers. Candidate drugs developed by the company have the potential to be the first-in-class therapy for new targets or best-in-class therapies for known complex targets. Using its SIMPLE antibody platform based on a powerful llama immune system, Argenx can develop antibody therapies that target novel and complex targets, while its three complementary Fc engineering technologies can expand the therapeutic index of its candidate products.
, the company announced that its exclusive global cooperation and licensing agreement with Clarag GmbH International, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals, for antibody therapy cusatuzumab (ARGX-110) has entered into force.
Argenx and Jansen have reached a joint global clinical development plan to evaluate the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myeloid growth syndrome and other potential future adaptations. Under the terms of the agreement, Jansen will pay Argenx a $300 million advance. In addition to tiered royalties, Argenx will be eligible for development, regulatory and sales milestones of up to $1.3 billion. Jansen will be responsible for global commercialization, and Argenx reserves the option to participate in U.S. commercialization efforts. In the U.S. market, the parties agreed to share a 50/50 economic interest in the form of royalties, while in markets outside the U.S., Janssen will pay Argenx a two-figure sales royalty. In addition, JJDC, a Johnson and Johnson innovation company owned by Johnson and Johnson, has completed a $200 million equity investment in Argenx.
cusatuzumab is an experimental SIMPLE antibody targeting CD70, which is an immune checkpoint target, involving blood malignancies, multiple solid tumors, and a variety of autoimmune diseases. Cusatuzumab aims to target the blocking of CD70, by complement-dependent cytotoxicity, enhance antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis, enhance antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, kill cancer cells expressing CD70, and restore immune monitoring of solid tumors.
currently, Argenx is evaluating cusatuzumab in patients with blood malignancies, including a Phase I/II clinical study evaluating cusatuzumab in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk bone marrow hyperplisive abnormal syndrome. Just recently, the FDA granted Cusatuzumab the right to treat orphan drugs for AML. (Bio Valley)