JNJ - XBiotech Move To Out-Licence Next Generation Antibody Brings In Substantial Cash For Pipeline Expansion

XBiotech (XBIT) surged higher recently after the company announced a massive out-licensing deal worth $1.35 billion based on its antibody drug Bermekimab. Xbiotech had made a deal with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to outlicense its product Bermekimab, which is being developed to treat atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa. XBiotech will use its own True Human Antibody platform for indications outside of dermatology. This will allow J&J to have a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-1 alpha for dermatology products. The True Human antibody platform has a lot of promise and is likely