Janssen and Vectura announce asthma/COPD research alliance

Janssen has announced that it will be collaborating with Vectura to create new asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) therapies, an area of expertise for Vectura.

The global development and licence agreement will involve the creation of novel anti-inflammatory therapies, focusing initially on the development of a phase II candidate. It also has the potential to include additional clinical-stage candidates.

Vectura can boast proven expertise in proprietary dry powder inhaler technologies for the development of inhaled therapeutics. This experience will aid Janssen's efforts to develop its pulmonary products to late-stage clinical development and commercialisation.

Janssen will lead the clinical development programmes, with Vectura taking responsibility for pharmaceutical development and preparation for phase II clinical trials.

Dr Chris Blackwell, chief executive of Vectura, said: "Vectura's role in this agreement is to apply its expertise in the development of products for airway-related diseases and to utilise its technology/device platform offerings, some of which have regulatory and commercial validation."

This comes after the firm also recently agreed new drug research partnerships with MacroGenics and Sevion Therapeutics.