Janssen’s takeover of Alios BioPharma completed

Janssen has announced that Alios BioPharma has been incorporated into its infectious disease therapy business following the completion of a takeover deal.

Parent company Johnson and Johnson has finalised the acquisition of the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company after agreeing a $1.75 billion (1.12 billion pounds) cash transaction.

Alios BioPharma’s business is focused on developing therapies for viral diseases. Its portfolio includes the promising compound AL-8176, an orally administered antiviral therapy currently in phase II development for the treatment of infants with respiratory syncytial virus.

The acquisition also includes two early-stage compounds for hepatitis C that could potentially complement Janssen’s existing offering in this field.

Dr Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer and worldwide pharmaceuticals chairman of Johnson and Johnson, said: “The acquisition of Alios BioPharma further reflects our commitment to bringing together the best science from around the globe to address significant unmet need.”

Next month, Janssen will be attending the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, where it will present new clinical data spanning more than eight disease areas.