Johnson & Johnson to develop Tesaro’s prostate cancer candidate Niraparib

Janssen Biotech will develop and commercialize Tesaro’s Niraparib for treatment of prostate cancer.

Niraparib, formerly known as MK-4827, is an orally active and potent poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, or PARP, inhibitor.

It is presently in late-stage cdevelopment for patients with metastatic breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Various collaborator-sponsored studies are also underway, including combination trials of niraparib plus enzalutamide, bevacizumab, and temozolomide, in patients with prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and Ewing’s sarcoma, respectively.

Further studies are being planned to assess niraparib in patients with lung cancer.

Under the global collaboration and license agreement, Johnson will pay Tesaro an upfront fee of $35m and nake nearly $415m in milestone payments if several development, regulatory and commercial milestones are reached.

Janssen will also fund the entire development and commercialization activities associated to niraparib in prostate cancer.

Janssen Research & Development oncology therapeutic area head Peter Lebowitz said: "PARP inhibitors are an exciting, emerging class of medicines in prostate cancer, and we believe niraparib will perfectly complement our existing portfolio."

Tesaro CEO Lonnie Moulder said: "This innovative, indication-specific collaboration accelerates efforts to expand the treatment options available for men with prostate cancer and further increases the value of the niraparib franchise."

PARP inhibitors have demonstrated activity as a monotherapy against tumors with existing DNA repair defects, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, and as a combination therapy when administered together with anti-cancer agents that induce DNA damage.