Johnson & Johnson secures $2.58 bn option to acquire in‑vivo CAR‑T developer Sail Biomedicines

Johnson & Johnson has entered a strategic collaboration with Sail Biomedicines to advance in‑vivo CAR‑T therapies for immune‑mediated diseases. The deal includes an initial equity investment of $465 million and total upfront payments of $785 million, with an additional $140 million tied to development milestones. Under the agreement, J&J receives an exclusive option to purchase Sail for up to $2.58 billion, allowing it to bring the company’s platform fully into its portfolio.

Sail’s platform is designed to reprogram a patient’s immune cells directly inside the body, a departure from traditional ex‑vivo CAR‑T approaches that require cell extraction, engineering, and reinfusion. J&J executives highlighted the potential to deliver durable, disease‑modifying treatments for complex autoimmune conditions. “This agreement is a testament to J&J’s commitment to partnering with bold innovators,” said Nauman Shah, global head of business development at J&J Innovative Medicine. Executive vice‑president John Reed added that the collaboration expands J&J’s immunology capabilities into what the companies term an “immune reset.”