J&J Completes Novira Therapeutics Acquisition

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Novira Therapeutics (Doylestown, PA), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for curative treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The transaction was originally announced November 4, 2015; financial terms have not been disclosed.

Novira Therapeutics is now part of the Infectious Diseases & Vaccines Therapeutic Area of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The acquisition includes Novira's portfolio of innovative antivirals, including its lead candidate, NVR 3-778 which is in Phase 1b clinical trials.  NVR 3-778 is an investigational small molecule, direct-acting antiviral, for oral administration in patients with HBV that inhibits the HBV core or capsid protein. HBV core is a promising drug target since it is involved in multiple activities required for viral replication and persistence. HBV affects more than 350 million people worldwide.