Janssen Biotech


Janssen Biotech, Inc., formerly Centocor Biotech, Inc., is a biotechnology company that was founded in Philadelphia in 1979 with an initial goal of developing new diagnostic assays using monoclonal antibody technology.

History

In 1982, Centocor transitioned into a publicly traded company. In the early 1980s, the company moved to Malvern, Pennsylvania. In 1984, Centocor opened an overseas plant in Leiden, the Netherlands.
In 1997, eighteen years after its foundation, Centocor achieved its first year of operating profitability. In 1998, Centocor sold its diagnostic division to Fujirebio, Inc.
In 1999, Centocor became a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
In 2004, Centocor purchased a new manufacturing plant in St. Louis, Missouri, and is currently opening a new manufacturing facility in County Cork, Ireland. The Dutch plant has been expanded substantially with a $250 million investment in additional production facilities, which were opened in 2006.
In 2007, Centocor broke new ground in advertising by releasing Innerstate, believed to be the first theatrically released documentary film both created and entirely funded by a drug company, to promote Remicade.
In 2008, Centocor, Inc. and Ortho Biotech Inc. merged to form Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.
In June 2010, Centocor Ortho Biotech acquired RespiVert, a privately held drug discovery company focused on developing small-molecule, inhaled therapies for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.
In June 2011, Centocor Ortho Biotech changed its name to Janssen Biotech, Inc. as part of a global effort to unite the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies around the world under a common identity.
In December 2014, the company announced it would co-develop MacroGenics cancer drug candidate which targets both CD19 and CD3 proteins in treating B-cell malignant tumours. This could net MacroGenics up to $700 million.
In January 2015, the company announced it would utilise Ionis Pharmaceuticals' Rna-targeting technology to discover and develop antisense drugs targeting autoimmune disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
In December 2019, XBiotech Inc. announced it would sell its novel antibody treatment that neutralizes interleukin-1 alpha to Janssen Biotech, Inc.

Products

In 1984, Centocor developed their first product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — a diagnostic test used to detect the rabies virus.
In 1998, the company launched its top-selling monoclonal antibody Remicade for its first FDA approved indication in Crohn's disease. Subsequently, Remicade's market has expanded with approvals for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and pediatric Crohn's disease. Remicade was approved for plaque psoriasis in September 2006.
Centocor also markets ReoPro, a biologic agent indicated as an adjunct to coronary angioplasty.
In 2009, the U.S. FDA approved Simponi, a human monoclonal antibody for treatment for arthritis, which was co-developed with Medarex, Inc.