Johnson & Johnson in-licensed ex-China rights to immune-modulating agents from a Sino Biopharma subsidiary, which it intends to use as part of a regimen for hepatitis B. Recently, J&J acquired Novira Therapeutics, a privately held US biopharma whose lead drug treats HBV. J&J plans to combine Novira's NVR 3-778, an oral small molecule direct acting antiviral that inhibits the HBV capsid protein, and Sino Biopharma's immune system adjuvant. The company hopes the combination will cure HBV, as opposed to current products that require life-long treatment.
