X-Chem, Janssen Biotech Expand Discovery Alliance

X-Chem, Inc. has expanded its collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to discover new drug leads for the treatment of inflammatory disease. The multi-target expansion builds on their existing discovery and license partnership entered into in December 2014, and facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

This agreement will apply X-Chem’s DEX platform to identify novel modulators for challenging disease targets, following the licensing of multiple series of X-Chem-discovered small molecules by Janssen in 2016. Under the agreement, X-Chem receives an upfront payment and research funding, and is eligible to receive additional payments and royalties based on clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones.

"We are pleased with this research alliance and the decision to increase the scope of the original agreement," said Rick Wagner, Ph.D., chief executive officer and Founder of X-Chem. "We are excited to continue our work with Janssen and discover the next generation of anti-inflammatory therapies."