Developer · JNJ · United States

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is an American multinational developer of pharmaceuticals (Innovative Medicine) and medical devices (MedTech). Its Innovative Medicine arm, formerly branded Janssen, develops the company's CNS/neuroscience pipeline.

jnj.com ↗

4compounds
4programs
2indications
Phase 3lead asset

Phase distribution

  • Phase 31
  • Phase 21
  • Discontinued2

Modality

  • Biologic 2
  • Small molecule 2

Mechanism focus

Pipeline (4)

Deals & partnerships

  • Aug 14, 2017AcquisitionJanssen acquires CERC-501 (aticaprant) asset from CerecorJanssen Pharmaceuticals acquired all rights to CERC-501 (the selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist later designated JNJ-67953964 / aticaprant) from Cerecor for ~$25M upfront (incl. $3.75M escrow) plus up to $20M in regulatory milestones. The molecule originated at Eli Lilly (LY-2456302) and was licensed by Cerecor from Lilly in early 2015 before this divestiture to Janssen.Aticaprantsource ↗
  • Jan 12, 2015Licensing dealJanssen in-licenses anti-Tau active immunotherapy ACI-35 (later JNJ-2056) from AC ImmuneWorldwide exclusive license and research collaboration for AC Immune's anti-Tau therapeutic vaccine ACI-35 (lead candidate ACI-35.030, later renamed JNJ-2056) for Alzheimer's disease. Upfront payment plus development/commercialization milestones totaling up to ~USD 509 million (CHF 500 million) plus tiered royalties. Janssen leads further development.JNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)source ↗
  • Feb 2014PartnershipJanssen and Minerva enter co-development and license agreement for seltorexant (MIN-202 / JNJ-42847922)Janssen Pharmaceutica NV and Minerva Neurosciences entered a co-development and license agreement for the selective orexin-2 antagonist seltorexant (JNJ-42847922 / MIN-202): Minerva held EU/EEA commercialization rights and co-development rights and paid Janssen a $22M license fee; J&J Development Corp. also took an equity stake. Janssen retained lead global development. On 2020-07-01 Minerva opted out, leaving Janssen with full development rights and Minerva entitled to a mid-single-digit royalty.Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922)source ↗

Catalysts · 2 upcoming · 7 reported

Recently reported

  • 2026-03-21missed

    PosdinemabforAlzheimer's diseaseFull results

    AuTonomy Phase 2b full results (AD/PD 2026): posdinemab missed the primary iADRS endpoint - no significant difference for either dose vs placebo at week 104; key secondaries also negative; tau-PET suggested slowed neurofibrillary-tangle accumulation. Program discontinued.

    source ↗

  • 2026-02-17pending

    JNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)forAlzheimer's diseaseInterim analysis

    Phase 2b ReTain (NCT06544616): Janssen temporarily paused recruitment (17 Feb 2026); voluntary, not safety-related, pre-specified interim immunogenicity threshold met; dosing/follow-up of enrolled participants continues.

    source ↗

  • 2025-09-25met

    JNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)forAlzheimer's diseaseFull results

    Phase 1b/2a (NCT04445831) full results published in eBioMedicine: ACI-35.030 induced anti-pTau IgG in 100% of early-AD participants, no safety concerns; ACI-35.030 selected to advance.

    source ↗

  • 2025-03-06missed

    AticaprantforMajor depressive disorderTopline data

    Phase 3 VENTURA program failed: J&J discontinued aticaprant for MDD on 2025-03-06 for insufficient efficacy; drug remained safe and well tolerated.

    source ↗

  • 2024-05-29met

    Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922)forMajor depressive disorderTopline data

    Pivotal Phase 3 MDD3001 met all primary and secondary endpoints — significant, clinically meaningful improvement in MADRS and sleep outcomes (ASCP 2024).

    source ↗

  • 2024-04-22met

    AticaprantforMajor depressive disorderFull results

    Phase 2a (NCT03559192) positive: adjunctive aticaprant 10 mg reduced MADRS vs placebo at Week 6 (LSMD -2.1; p=0.044, 1-sided); well tolerated.

    source ↗

  • Date TBD

    Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922)forMajor depressive disorderFull results

    Phase 3 data comparing seltorexant to quetiapine XR as adjunctive therapy in MDD with insomnia symptoms presented at the 2025 Psych Congress.

    source ↗

Recent activity

  • Mar 21, 2026ReadoutPosdinemab·Alzheimer's diseasemissedAuTonomy Phase 2b full results (AD/PD 2026): posdinemab missed the primary iADRS endpoint - no significant difference for either dose vs placebo at week 104; key secondaries also negative; tau-PET suggested slowed neurofibrillary-tangle accumulation. Program discontinued.source ↗
  • Feb 17, 2026ReadoutJNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)·Alzheimer's diseasependingPhase 2b ReTain (NCT06544616): Janssen temporarily paused recruitment (17 Feb 2026); voluntary, not safety-related, pre-specified interim immunogenicity threshold met; dosing/follow-up of enrolled participants continues.source ↗
  • Nov 21, 2025Phase changePosdinemab·Alzheimer's diseaseDiscontinuedJohnson & Johnson announced discontinuation of the Phase 2b AuTonomy study after posdinemab did not achieve statistical significance versus placebo in slowing clinical decline (iADRS primary endpoint) at a planned review. ClinicalTrials.gov overall status: TERMINATED ('Posdinemab did not achieve statistical significance in slowing clinical decline'). Development in early Alzheimer's disease discontinued.source ↗
  • Sep 25, 2025ReadoutJNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)·Alzheimer's diseasemetPhase 1b/2a (NCT04445831) full results published in eBioMedicine: ACI-35.030 induced anti-pTau IgG in 100% of early-AD participants, no safety concerns; ACI-35.030 selected to advance.source ↗
  • Mar 6, 2025ReadoutAticaprant·Major depressive disordermissedPhase 3 VENTURA program failed: J&J discontinued aticaprant for MDD on 2025-03-06 for insufficient efficacy; drug remained safe and well tolerated.source ↗
  • Jan 8, 2025Phase changePosdinemab·Alzheimer's diseasePhase 2U.S. FDA granted Fast Track designation to posdinemab for early Alzheimer's disease (announced by Johnson & Johnson).source ↗
  • Jul 22, 2024Phase changeJNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)·Alzheimer's diseasePhase 2Phase 2b 'ReTain' study (NCT06544616) in preclinical AD started 22 Jul 2024 (ClinicalTrials.gov study start date). FDA Fast Track designation announced 25 Jul 2024.source ↗
  • May 29, 2024ReadoutSeltorexant (JNJ-42847922)·Major depressive disordermetPivotal Phase 3 MDD3001 met all primary and secondary endpoints — significant, clinically meaningful improvement in MADRS and sleep outcomes (ASCP 2024).source ↗
  • Apr 22, 2024ReadoutAticaprant·Major depressive disordermetPhase 2a (NCT03559192) positive: adjunctive aticaprant 10 mg reduced MADRS vs placebo at Week 6 (LSMD -2.1; p=0.044, 1-sided); well tolerated.source ↗
  • Sep 5, 2023Phase changeJNJ-2056 (ACI-35.030)·Alzheimer's diseasePhase 1/2Phase 1b/2a study NCT04445831 (ACI-35.030 + JACI-35.054 vs placebo in early AD, n=57) completed (last participant last visit 5 Sep 2023). ACI-35.030 induced anti-pTau IgG in 100% of participants and was selected to advance.source ↗
  • Jun 22, 2022Phase changeAticaprant·Major depressive disorderPhase 3Phase 3 VENTURA program initiated (VENTURA-1 NCT05455684 first patient).source ↗
  • May 24, 2022Phase changeSeltorexant (JNJ-42847922)·Major depressive disorderPhase 3Phase 3 MDD3002 (NCT04532749) terminated following interim analysis on Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommendation.source ↗

Trials recruiting · 2 recruiting of 15 sponsored

  • Phase 3Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922)n=60010 sites · United States

    Seltorexant as Monotherapy in Adults and Elderly Participants With Major Depressive Disorder

    Major Depressive DisorderNCT07573176 ↗

  • Phase 3Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922)n=752205 sites · United States, Romania, Brazil

    Phase 3 Study of Adjunctive Treatment With Seltorexant in Adult and Elderly Participants With Major Depressive Disorder and Insomnia Symptoms

    Major Depressive DisorderNCT06559306 ↗

Competitive landscape

Other companies developing against Johnson & Johnson's targets or indications.

Leadership & advisors (3)