Ichor Medical inks $85m drug-device deal with J&J

Ichor Medical Systems said today that it inked a development & licensing deal with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals for drug-device combination aimed at hepatitis-B.

San Diego-based Ichor said the deal calls for the companies to develop a DNA-based vaccine to be administered using Ichor’s TriGrid electroporation technology. The deal calls for an up-front payment from Janssen, plus R&D support and milestones, all worth a collective $85 million, Ichor said.

The deal also includes future sales royalties, the company said. Janssen’s end includes some of development and all commercialization costs for the drug-device combination, including manufacturing and distribution of the TriGrid device, Ichor said.

Electroporation uses short electrical pulses to temporarily change cell membranes to allow DNA to enter. The TriGrid device is the 1st integrated, fully automated electroporation-mediated DNA administration device for human use, according to a press release.

Ichor founder & CEO Robert Bernard said the deal is "extraordinarily exciting for Ichor."

"Our scientists and engineers look forward to this opportunity to collaborate with Janssen in the development of immunotherapies for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection," Bernard said in prepared remarks.