Jubilant in neuroscience drug discovery alliance with Janssen

In a second piece of good news on deals with a drug major for the Indian group in a matter of days, Jubilant Discovery Services, a New Jersey, USA-Based subsidiary if India’s Jubilant Life Sciences, said it has entered into a drug discovery alliance with Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Belgian subsidiary of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) that will aim to deliver preclinical candidates to Janssen. The alliance is set to span an initial period of three years and will focus on multiple targets in the area of neuroscience.

Under the terms of the alliance agreement, Janssen will transfer ongoing efforts on selected drug discovery targets to Jubilant. Jubilant shall then carry out the research services and deliver preclinical candidates to Janssen for possible further development and commercialization. In addition to receiving research funding, Jubilant may also be eligible to receive milestones and royalties should Janssen successfully develop and commercialize the candidates. Further financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Commenting on the development, Sri Mosur, chief executive and president, Global Drug Discovery & Development, at Jubilant, said: "The collaboration will utilize Jubilant's global research network to include our new research facility in the USA focused in the area of neuroscience, in addition to our India-based research centers. We look forward to enhancing the research and development efforts at Janssen through this unique and creative alliance in these dynamic times in the industry."