Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, has entered a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Tesaro, Inc., for exclusive rights to the investigational compound niraparib in prostate cancer. Niraparib is an orally administered poly polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, currently in late-stage development for patients with metastatic breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
According to terms of the license agreement and collaboration arrangement, Janssen will have global rights and be responsible for all development and commercialization activities for niraparib for use in prostate cancer, except in Japan. Tesaro will maintain global development, manufacturing and commercial rights for all other indications.
In addition to an upfront payment, Tesaro will be eligible to receive milestone payments, based upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on future worldwide sales.
Separate to the exclusive license and collaboration arrangement, Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC, Inc. will make an equity investment in Tesaro.
PARP proteins play a key survival role in DNA repair in cancer cells. By inhibiting PARP, certain defective cancer cells are not able to repair themselves, leading to cell death. A portion of men with prostate cancer have these defective cancer cells and may benefit from use of a PARP inhibitor, either alone, or in combination with other treatments.
