Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has completed its acquisition of Momenta Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company developing novel biologics for rare immune-mediated diseases and biosimilars, for $6.5 billion.

Momenta’s lead asset is nipocalimab, which is in Phase II/III development for reducing the risk and severity of fetal anemia and the resulting morbidities. With its acquisition, J&J obtains full global rights to nipocalimab and further opportunity to pursue indications across autoimmune diseases in areas such as maternal-fetal disorders, neuro-inflammatory disorders, rheumatology, dermatology and autoimmune hematology. J&J says it will have the potential to introduce multiple launches of nipocalimab, including first-in-class indications, with potential for “significant” peak year sales, some of which could exceed $1 billion. In addition to Momenta’s employees and lead asset, nipocalimab, J&J gains Momenta’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical assets

Earlier this year (July 2020), Momenta received rare pediatric disease designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nipocalimab for the prevention of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Additionally, FDA granted nipocalimab orphan-drug designation in HDFN. HDFN is a serious blood disorder in a fetus or newborn that occurs when red blood cell incompatibility exists between the blood types of a mother and fetus in utero.

Source: Johnson & Johnson and Momenta Pharmaceuticals