Johnson & Johnson expands in vivo CAR-T push with US$2.58B deal with Sail Biomedicines

USA—Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is expanding its presence in the increasingly competitive in vivo CAR-T market through a development partnership with Sail Biomedicines that could ultimately lead to the acquisition of the biotech.

Under the agreement, the companies will advance Sail’s lead programme, SAIL-0839, which is being developed to engineer CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells inside the body to treat immune-mediated diseases.

Unlike conventional CAR-T therapies, which typically require cells to be collected from a patient, genetically modified outside the body and then reinfused, in vivo CAR-T aims to perform the cellular engineering directly in the patient.

John Reed, executive vice-president of innovative medicine R&D at J&J, said the approach could “fundamentally transform how immune-mediated diseases are treated” by providing a simpler and more scalable alternative to existing autologous and allogeneic cell therapies.

J&J commits US$785M to development

As part of the agreement, J&J will provide Sail with up to US$785 million.

The package includes a US$ 465 million equity investment and an additional US$ 140 million payment that Sail can receive if it achieves specified development milestones.

The agreement also gives J&J the option to acquire the Massachusetts-based biotech for US$2.58 billion.

This structure allows J&J to strengthen its position in the emerging in vivo cell therapy field while retaining the flexibility to pursue full ownership as the programme advances.

SAIL-0839 represents a key component of Sail’s platform for delivering therapeutic cargoes directly to specific cells in the body.

By targeting T-cells in vivo, the programme seeks to avoid some of the complex manufacturing steps associated with conventional CAR-T therapies.

Pharma interest in in vivo CAR-T accelerates

J&J’s latest agreement adds to a growing wave of pharmaceutical investment in in vivo CAR-T technology.

Several major drugmakers are pursuing different approaches to overcome the manufacturing, cost and logistical challenges associated with ex vivo cell therapies.

AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Gilead Sciences’ cell therapy unit Kite have all entered high-profile deals in the field.

These companies are backing different technologies and delivery systems as they seek to determine which approaches can provide the most favourable balance of safety, efficacy and scalability.

In vivo CAR-T therapies could potentially eliminate the need to manufacture a patient’s cells outside the body, which may simplify treatment and expand access if the technology proves successful in clinical development.

J&J builds on earlier cell therapy collaboration

J&J has previously explored the in vivo CAR-T field through a collaboration with Kelonia Therapeutics, an in vivo cell therapy specialist.

The partnership focused on using Kelonia’s platform to develop next-generation in vivo CAR-T therapies against targets selected by J&J.

Eli Lilly later acquired Kelonia, highlighting the growing interest among major pharmaceutical companies in technologies that could reshape the delivery and manufacture of cell therapies.