New pharmaceutical agreement could lead to cure for hepatitis B infection. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
+ Technology/Innovation
Jamie Barrand | Jan 11, 2016

New pharmaceutical agreement could lead to cure for hepatitis B infection

A recent license agreement between Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Chinese pharmaceutical company Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. may lead to new therapies to treat a variety of diseases, including chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

“Johnson & Johnson Innovation’s mission is to identify the best science around the world to advance important therapies and products for patients and consumers,” Dr. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer and worldwide chairman of pharmaceuticals for Johnson & Johnson, said.

Company officials hope the partnership will lead to a hepatitis B cure.

“We are excited by the opportunity to work with Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group and to fully leverage our expertise in this critical disease area in order to bring potentially transformational treatments to patients,” Dr. William Hait, global head of Janssen's research and development department, said.

Chronic hepatitis B is a liver disease affecting more than 350 million people worldwide. It is potentially fatal and may lead to cancer. Although the disease is manageable, there is no cure.

Johnson & Johnson is also part of 21 other new collaborations with companies all over the world. These partnerships are focused on non-invasive treatments for solid tumors; developing new custom surgical devices; improving outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation; improving outcomes for joint replacement patients; decreasing back pain and modulating disc degeneration; dental and periodontal disease; skin health; human hair growth; improving HIV outcomes in resource-poor settings; development of a therapeutic HIV vaccine; developing the first long-acting injectable combination regimen for HIV; discovering biomarkers for prostate cancer; validating innovative medicines with organoid disease models; developing T-cell engaging antibody therapy for intracellular oncogenes; novel approaches for preventing influenza infection; development of novel treatments for diabetes; identifying novel biomarkers for beta-cell function; targeting insulin resistance; discovering novel targets and candidates for inflammatory bowel disease; and treating neglected tropical diseases.

For more information about any of these studies, visit www.jnjinnovation.com.

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