Janssen and Modern Biosciences to ally on arthritis drug research

Janssen has announced a new collaboration with Modern Biosciences, focusing on the creation of innovative oral therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.

The research and development alliance and and global option and licence agreement will see Modern Biosciences receive an up-front payment, plus development, regulatory and commercialisation milestone payments, up to a potential total of 176 million pounds.

Modern Biosciences' bone-protective compounds work by a novel mechanism of action that target both the inflammatory component of rheumatoid arthritis and the associated bone destruction.

This approach has the potential to not only protect joints from further damage, but also to control pain and swelling. The most advanced of the compounds is due to enter phase I clinical development in 2015.

Sam Williams, chief executive officer of Modern Biosciences, said the company's compounds "have unique characteristics compared to existing treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and we believe Janssen is an ideal partner with which to take the molecules forward".

Last month, Janssen was able to bolster its infectious disease therapy business following the completion of parent company Johnson and Johnson's takeover of Alios BioPharma. The acquired firm has since been absorbed by Janssen.