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Johnson & Johnson in Talks for Rights to Shanghai Henlius Experimental Cancer Drug
ByAinvest
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025 7:03 am ET1min read
Johnson & Johnson is in talks to acquire rights to Shanghai Henlius' experimental cancer drug. The move comes as the company seeks to expand its pharmaceutical portfolio. Johnson & Johnson is a leading producer of healthcare products, with a significant presence in the US and a diverse range of products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostic systems.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is reportedly in talks to acquire the rights to HLX43, an experimental cancer drug developed by Shanghai Henlius Biotech, a unit of Fosun Pharma. The move underscores J&J's strategic expansion into the Chinese biotech market, as the company seeks to bolster its pharmaceutical portfolio.The reported discussions highlight a growing trend where Western drugmakers are turning to Chinese biotechs for promising treatments. J&J and Roche are among the companies exploring deals with Henlius, with HLX43 currently in mid-stage trials in China. If the drug shows strong results, Henlius could potentially secure a significant payday, according to Bloomberg [1].
This development comes amidst increased scrutiny by U.S. regulators on Chinese drug deals. The Trump administration is drafting an executive order that could put Chinese drug deals under stricter review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. Additionally, the order would increase scrutiny of Chinese clinical trial data and raise fees for Chinese-origin medicines [1].
J&J's stock has shown resilience, rising 25.6% so far in 2025, while Roche's U.S.-listed stock has gained 20% over the same period. The company's stock performance reflects investor sentiment, with retail sentiment for J&J being 'bearish' and for Roche being 'neutral' on Stocktwits [1].
Separately, J&J has submitted an application for European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of icotrokinra to treat adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The treatment, an investigational targeted oral tablet, has shown promising results in phase 3 studies, including the ICONIC-LEAD study, which demonstrated complete skin clearance for patients [2].
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