Once a latecomer to cell therapy research, J&J has established itself as a major player in recent years. A 2017 licensing deal with Chinese drug developer Legend Biotech yielded Carvykti, which has since become one of only two cell therapies approved in the U.S. for multiple myeloma.
The deal with Cellular Biomedicine shows J&J has broader ambitions. It’s added two programs that represent next-generation approaches. One is already in Phase 1 testing, while the other is expected to begin human studies later this year.
