Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Janssen's second DART bet on MacroGenics: $75M upfront for preclinical bispecific MGD015, with up to $665M more in milestones, betting the platform's manufacturing edge over cell therapy would pay off again after the earlier MGD011 deal.
Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.
Full analysis, sources & comparables →GEN detailed the deal terms: $75M upfront, up to $665M in milestones, double-digit royalties, plus a US/Canada co-promote and profit-sharing option — Janssen's…
MacroGenics confirmed deal closing on June 28, 2016, triggering the $75M upfront — validating company narrative that DART platform partnering remained a viable…
BioPharma Dive (covering the related MGD011 termination): the decision 'raises questions about the promise of MacroGenics' DART platform' as competitive…
Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.
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MacroGenics granted Janssen a global, exclusive license to MGD015, a preclinical CD3 x tumor-target bispecific DART molecule. MacroGenics received $75M upfront plus up to $665M in clinical, regulatory, and commercialization milestones (~$740M total) plus tiered royalties on global sales. Second deal between the parties (followed 2014 MGD011 deal).
$5.0B Global DLBCL therapeutics market 2024 (DelveInsight) · $75M / $740M Upfront / total deal value
CD3 x tumor-target bispecific T-cell engagers redirect cytotoxic T cells against tumor antigens without ex vivo cell engineering, providing an off-the-shelf alternative to CAR-T therapy. The category has matured rapidly in B-cell malignancies (DLBCL, FL, multiple myeloma) and is expanding into solid tumors. MGD015 was undisclosed in target but designed for both hematologic and solid-tumor applications.
The CD3-bispecific category has become one of immuno-oncology's most crowded fields. Approved CD3 bispecifics now include Amgen's Blincyto (CD19xCD3, AML/ALL), Roche's Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab, CD20xCD3, FL) and Columvi (glofitamab, DLBCL), AbbVie/Genmab's Epkinly (epcoritamab, DLBCL), and Janssen's own Tecvayli (teclistamab, BCMAxCD3, multiple myeloma) and Talvey (talquetamab, GPRC5DxCD3). MacroGenics's DART platform competes with Amgen/Micromet's BiTE (post-2012 Amgen acquisition), Roche/Genentech's CrossMAb, Genmab's DuoBody, and Xencor's bispecific scaffold. The Janssen-MacroGenics MGD015 deal ($75M up / $740M total / double-digit royalties / US-Canada co-promote option) was the second collaboration between the parties — the prior MGD011 (duvortuxizumab, CD19xCD3) was terminated by Janssen in September 2017 due to neurotoxicity, with BioPharma Dive noting it 'raises questions about the promise of MacroGenics' DART platform.' MGD015 was preclinical at signing in 2016, with Janssen targeting first-in-human dosing in 2018. The deal sits at the high end of preclinical-stage bispecific upfront norms (~10% of total) and reflects Janssen's broader bet on T-cell-engager modalities — a thesis subsequently validated by Tecvayli's 2022 approval. Sources: https://ir.macrogenics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/macrogenics-enters-collaboration-and-license-agreement-janssen-0 ; https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/macrogenics-janssen-terminates-development-deal-mgd011/504089/
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) / MacroGenics, Inc. (this deal) | 2016 | $740M | — |
| Amgen Inc. / Micromet Inc. | 2012 | $1.2B | 88 |
| Servier / Shire plc (Oncology Business) | 2018 | $2.4B | 88 |
| AstraZeneca PLC / Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 2020 | $39.0B | 86 |
| Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB / Biovitrum | 2001 | $493M | 84 |
| Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. / Astex Pharmaceuticals | 2013 | $886M | 79 |
| AbbVie Inc. / Pharmacyclics Inc. | 2015 | $21.0B | 79 |
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