Johnson & Johnson has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Intra-Cellular Therapies, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, for $132.00 per share in cash for a total equity value of approximately $14.6 billion.
“Building on our nearly 70-year legacy in neuroscience, this unique opportunity to add Intra-Cellular Therapies to our Innovative Medicine business demonstrates our commitment to transforming care and advancing research in some of today’s most devastating neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders,” said Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson. “This acquisition further differentiates our portfolio, serves as a strategic near- and long-term growth catalyst for Johnson & Johnson and offers compelling value to patients, health systems and shareholders.”
With this agreement, Johnson & Johnson adds Intra-Cellular Therapies’ CAPLYTA (lumateperone), a once-daily oral therapy approved to treat adults with schizophrenia, as well as depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or II disorder (bipolar depression), as a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. The acquisition also includes ITI-1284, a promising Phase 2 compound being studied in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and Alzheimer’s disease-related psychosis and agitation, as well as a clinical-stage pipeline that further complements and strengthens Johnson & Johnson’s current areas of focus.
“We are excited to welcome Intra-Cellular Therapies’ talented people and world-class expertise to Johnson & Johnson,” said Jennifer Taubert, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Innovative Medicine, Johnson & Johnson. “Together, we have an opportunity to impact even more patients living with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, significantly advancing care and helping improve the lives of millions worldwide.”
“CAPLYTA®’s success and the robust pipeline we have built demonstrates the passion and dedication of our talented team, and we are proud of the hundreds of thousands of patients we have helped,” said Dr. Sharon Mates, Chairman and CEO of Intra-Cellular Therapies. “Johnson & Johnson has a longstanding commitment to neuroscience, and we believe together, we can reach even more patients around the world.”
In December 2024, Intra-Cellular Therapies announced the submission of a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CAPLYTA as an adjunctive treatment for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). In two global, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 studies, CAPLYTA, as an adjunctive treatment to antidepressants, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms, as measured by both clinician-rated and patient-reported outcomes.
The safety profile of CAPLYTA in both studies was consistent with the existing body of clinical data for CAPLYTA, and no new safety concerns were identified. If approved, CAPLYTA has the potential to be the first treatment approved for MDD and depressive symptoms associated with bipolar I and II in more than 15 years. Additional Phase 3 trials are underway with CAPLYTA in bipolar I disorder with manic episodes or manic episodes with mixed features (bipolar mania). Positive topline results evaluating the efficacy and safety of CAPLYTA for the prevention of relapse in adult patients with schizophrenia were shared in November 2024.
While its exact mechanism of action is unknown, CAPLYTA is uniquely characterized by high serotonin 5-HT2A receptor occupancy and lower amounts of dopamine D2 receptor occupancy at therapeutic doses. In short-term clinical studies across all three approved indications, CAPLYTA was similar to placebo in weight change, metabolic effects, and extrapyramidal symptoms, which are often cited as reasons for treatment discontinuation. The most common reported adverse events were somnolence/sedation, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth. Across all three approved indications, CAPLYTA can be taken at any time of day with or without food and does not require titration, allowing adult patients to start treatment at the effective dose.
“CAPLYTA has robust efficacy, proven safety and favorable tolerability across all three approved indications, without the need for dose titration frequently associated with this class of therapies,” said John Reed, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, R&D, Innovative Medicine, Johnson & Johnson. “With positive Phase 3 data in MDD as an adjunctive therapy and additional Phase 3 trials in other mental health disorders underway, we believe CAPLYTA® has the potential to become a new standard of care for the treatment of some of today’s most prevalent and debilitating mental health disorders.”
