Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Pays $50M Upfront for Japanese Rights to Amgen Pain Candidate

Amgen could receive another $385 in milestones.

Amgen licensed a clinical-stage molecule for the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain to Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals (OMJPI). Amgen will receive $50 million upfront.

The company could also earn $385 million in success-based milestones, additional sales-related milestones, and royalties. OMJPI will obtain global rights, excluding Japan, to the product, a fully human antinerve growth factor antibody.


Takeda owns the license to the drug candidate in Japan as part of its $1 billion deal with Amgen, inked in February. As part of that transaction, Takeda paid $200 million in cash upfront for 13 drug compounds.