NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.,
March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced that its
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies have entered a collaboration with
the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) to support the
development of a preventive vaccine candidate for COVID-19. The
parties have commenced preclinical testing of multiple vaccine
prospects, with the aim to identify by the end of the month a
COVID-19 vaccine candidate for clinical trials.
Janssen is optimistic that, in collaboration with multiple
global strategic partners, it can initiate a Phase 1 clinical study
of a potential vaccine candidate by the end of the year. In
parallel to these efforts, Janssen is preparing to upscale
production and manufacturing capacities to levels required to meet
global public health vaccination needs.
"It is critical to work with the best scientific minds as we
look to rapidly identify and develop solutions to the COVID-19
outbreak," said Paul Stoffels, M.D.,
Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific
Officer, Johnson & Johnson. "We are grateful for talented and
experienced collaboration partners like Dan
Barouch and his team at BIDMC. By mobilizing our collective
resources, we believe we can leverage the top science and
cutting-edge capabilities to respond to this pandemic."
Janssen's vaccine program will use the Janssen
AdVac® and PER.C6® technologies
that provide the ability to rapidly upscale production of an
optimal vaccine candidate. The company is leveraging its proven
vaccine technology that it is also using to develop its
investigational Ebola (which also utilizes its MVA-BN®
technology), Zika, RSV and HIV vaccines. Research and collaboration
on preclinical work for our Zika and HIV vaccine candidates at the
Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center was foundational to developing these vaccines.
Dan Barouch, M.D., Ph.D.,
Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at BIDMC
and the Ragon Institute, stated, "We are currently evaluating a
series of potential vaccine candidates for COVID-19. This
collaboration with Janssen is aimed at the development of a
COVID-19 vaccine that would allow for rapid development,
large-scale manufacturing, and global delivery."
Dr. Barouch's team is well-known for their work on the
pathogenesis and immunology of viral infections and the development
of vaccine strategies for global infectious diseases.
Johnson & Johnson's efforts to expedite development and
production of a vaccine are enhanced by the existing COVID-19
vaccine collaborations between Janssen and the Biomedical
Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
(ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
In addition to Janssen's efforts to develop a vaccine candidate,
the Company is working closely with global strategic partners to
screen its library of antiviral molecules to accelerate the
discovery of potential COVID-19 treatments and provide relief for
people around the world.
For more information on Johnson & Johnson's multipronged
response to identifying critical solutions to the COVID-19
outbreak, please visit: www.jnj.com/coronavirus.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation
of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's
why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at
every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest
and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to
using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and
affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy
mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We
are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change
the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com.
Follow us at @JNJNews.
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies
At Janssen,
we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're
the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working
tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by
fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity,
and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine
where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular &
Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines,
Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at
www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenGlobal.
Notice to Investors Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding darunavir/cobicistat and
development of potential preventive and treatment regimens for
COVID-19. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current
expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove
inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize,
actual results could vary materially from the expectations and
projections of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson
& Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and
development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of
obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success;
manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including
technological advances, new products and patents attained by
competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety
concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes
in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care
products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations,
including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care
cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks,
uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson &
Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 29, 2019, including in the
sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most
recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's
subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov,
www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson
undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of
new information or future events or developments.
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson