Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
J&J paid $350M upfront for exclusive global rights to Legend Biotech's BCMA-directed CAR-T, structured as a 50/50 profit-sharing partnership. CARVYKTI earned FDA approval in 2022 and crossed $1B annual sales by 2024, establishing J&J as a serious cell therapy contender.
Janssen Biotech (J&J subsidiary) entered an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Legend Biotech to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel, later branded CARVYKTI), a BCMA-directed CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma. J&J paid $350 million upfront with additional milestone payments. The collaboration features a 50:50 cost and profit-sharing structure globally, except in Greater China (70% Legend / 30% Janssen). CARVYKTI received FDA approval in February 2022.
35K US cases/yr · $24.0B Global multiple myeloma therapeutics
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow, the second most common hematologic malignancy. Treatment has been transformed by immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors, anti-CD38 antibodies, bispecifics, and CAR-T therapies.
First-line: lenalidomide + dexamethasone +/- daratumumab or bortezomib. Relapsed: carfilzomib, pomalidomide, CAR-T (ide-cel, cilta-cel), bispecifics (teclistamab). Key players: J&J (Darzalex $10B+, Carvykti), BMS (Revlimid, Abecma), Pfizer (Elrexfio).
Janssen obtained exclusive worldwide license for cilta-cel BCMA CAR-T development and commercialization.
FDA approved Carvykti for r/r multiple myeloma. Later expanded to 2L+. Regulatory step in Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Biotech Inc.)'s acquisition process for Legend Biotech Corporation.
Carvykti: $963M 2024 sales. Manufacturing scaling. Multiple markets approved. Gold-standard CAR-T collaboration.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson / Legend Biotech Corporation (this deal) | 2017 | $9.0B | 96 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Centocor Inc. | 1999 | $4.9B | 92 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. | 2009 | $970M | 91 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Actelion Ltd | 2017 | $30.0B | 90 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 2013 | $1.0B | 89 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Legend Biotech Corporation | 2017 | $350M | 83 |
| Johnson & Johnson / Genmab A/S | 2012 | $3.0B | 77 |
← Browse all deals · How we score deals
More: 2017 deals · Johnson & Johnson deals · Gene Therapy deals