Johnson & Johnson Halts Nipocalimab Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis After Failure

Johnson & Johnson has halted studies for a potential rival to AbbVie's Humira after a mid-stage trial setback. The trial evaluated Johnson & Johnson's experimental antibody therapy, nipocalimab, for rheumatoid arthritis. The company decided to discontinue the therapy due to the failure of the trial.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has decided to discontinue the development of its experimental antibody therapy, nipocalimab, for rheumatoid arthritis after a mid-stage trial failed to show significant added benefits over existing anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) therapies. The decision follows the results of the Phase 2a DAISY proof-of-concept study, which evaluated nipocalimab in combination with anti-TNFα therapies [1].

The trial, which involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, did not demonstrate that the combination therapy provided additional benefits over anti-TNFα therapy alone. Despite the lack of new safety issues, Johnson & Johnson concluded that the drug combination did not warrant further clinical development for this indication [2].

While this setback impacts Johnson & Johnson's plans for nipocalimab in rheumatoid arthritis, the company continues to project over $5 billion in non-risk-adjusted peak-year operational sales for the drug across other conditions, including various rheumatic diseases [1].

The development of nipocalimab had been seen as a potential rival to AbbVie's (ABBV) blockbuster drug Humira, which has faced competition from U.S. biosimilars in recent years. Humira's sales potential, previously worth nearly $21 billion in 2021, has been under threat from these competitors [1].

This decision underscores the challenges pharmaceutical companies face in developing new therapies and highlights the importance of rigorous clinical trials in assessing their efficacy.

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4490373-jj-halts-rd-potential-rival-abbvies-humira
[2] https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/jj-drops-development-combination-arthritis-drug-after-trial-setback-2025-08-28/