Johnson & Johnson cut a handful of trials across its portfolio in the third quarter, including a Phase 2 study of a touted neuroscience treatment.
Missing in the company’s updated pipeline list is a trial testing seltorexant in patients with probable Alzheimer’s disease who have clinically significant agitation or aggression. Earlier this year, the trial record in a US database was updated from “still recruiting patients” to “completed.”
Additional cuts to the neuroscience pipeline include a Phase 2 bipolar treatment targeting the P2X7 receptor, and a Phase 1 treatment for Parkinson’s disease, JNJ-0376. An early-stage psoriasis candidate was also culled.
In the oncology unit, J&J ended a Phase 3 study of Imbruvica as a treatment for relapsed or refractory patients with mantle cell lymphoma in combination with venetoclax.
“We regularly prioritize programs in our portfolio to ensure sustainable delivery of transformative medicines to patients with unmet needs,” a spokesperson said.
Seltorexant had a positive readout earlier this year as an adjunctive treatment for patients with both major depressive disorder and insomnia. The company has included the asset among its future blockbusters, estimating between $1 billion to $5 billion in potential revenue. Driving those projections is the anticipated launch in patients with depression, as opposed to treating Alzheimer’s agitation or aggression.
Elsewhere, J&J no longer included fellow adjunctive MDD treatment aticaprant on the list of assets with expected 2024 readouts, though a spokesperson clarified that Phase 3 data are expected “to be available in house” by the end of the year.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a response from a Johnson & Johnson spokesperson on the timeline for Phase 3 data of aticaprant.