Janssen strengthens immunotherapy capabilities with BeneVir acquisition
BeneVir is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of oncolytic immunotherapies. Its proprietary T-Stealth Oncolytic Virus Platform is designed to infect and destroy cancer cells.
“BeneVir will further enable the advancement of the antigen presentation component of our cancer immunotherapy strategy through a novel oncolytic virus platform,” Brian Kenney, Janssen’s global therapeutic area communication leader of oncology, told Biopharma-Reporter.
“It also brings an innovative capability into Janssen that deepens our expertise and will further strengthen and differentiate our immunotherapy strategy and portfolio, which is focused on developing differentiated standalone and combination regimens.”
Kenney added that Janssen is advancing a comprehensive immune-oncology pipeline through checkpoints, suppressive cell modulators, and antigen presentation modulators.
“We continue to make significant progress in building a portfolio of immune-oncology regimens,” Kenney said. “Core to this strategy is a tailored approach to immune therapy and the engagement of critical components in the cancer-immunity cycle, which is why we are excited to add the science and expertise of Benevir’s technology and researchers.”
BeneVir will maintain a research presence in Rockville, Maryland and become part of the Janssen Oncology Therapeutic Area.
The acquisition – terms of which were not disclosed – is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.
