Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Halda Therapeutics
Halda Therapeutics, a new Haven-based biotech company focused on developing next-generation cancer treatment. This therapeutic development has been acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $3.05 billion. It is one of the biggest biotech deals Connecticut has seen in years. The agreement announced highlights both the influence of the biotech sector of New Haven and the ever-growing demand for new cancer treatments.
Halda Therapeutics was founded in 2019. Since then, the organization has quickly positioned itself as one of the major contributors to cancer drug development. It is renowned for its novel technology platform and strong scientific leadership. The pioneering work of the crew members helped to shape the research of Halda. It was attracting attention from the industry giants such as Johnson & Johnson.
J&J Sees Halda as a Strategic Boost to Its Cancer Portfolio
In the announcement, Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, said that the acquisition demonstrates the company’s commitment to strengthening its oncology pipeline. An important reason behind the acquisition of Halda’s proprietary technology is the Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimera (RIPTAC) platform. This platform is designed to develop targeted, oral therapies that are capable of treating solid tumors. Treating solid tumors is an area of oncology that continues to have high unmet medical needs.
Jennifer Taubert is the executive vice president and worldwide chairman of innovative medicine at Johnson & Johnson. She said that the acquisition brings both immediate and long-term value to the oncology strategy of J&J. This acquisition of Halda byJohnson & Johnson further strengthens the oncology pipeline of the company with an exciting lead asset in prostate cancer. This platform is capable of treating multiple cancers and diseases beyond oncology.
Also, she said that combining pipeline, platform, and people of Halda with world-class R&D, commercial and manufacturing capabilities and advancing goal of J&J will bring these therapies to the patients around the world.
Halda’s Lead Asset: A New Approach to Prostate Cancer Treatment
The star of Halda’s pipeline and the centrepiece of the deal is HLD-0915, a clinical-stage therapy designed for treating prostate cancer. According to Johnson & Johnson, the therapy is taken once daily and may provide a new personalized approach to eliminating cancer cells. Significantly, it may also help overcome the mechanisms that make some cancers resistant to current treatments.
In addition to HLD-0915, the acquisition includes several early-stage drug candidates targeting breast cancer, lung cancer, and other solid tumors. The technology of Halda may also eventually support treatments for diseases beyond oncology, although those possibilities remain in early exploration.
Halda Leadership Calls the Deal a Scientific Milestone
Halda CEO and President Christian Schade said that the agreement represents years of work by the scientists and marks a critical moment for the future of the company.
She said that Halda is dedicated to advancing its novel RIPTAC modality to develop the next generation of selective, proximity-based small molecule therapeutics. Through this transaction, they will continue to rapidly develop this promising program for patients with prostate cancer and advance Halda’s innovative pipeline.
The acquisition of Halda by J&J News was welcomed by leaders in the state’s life sciences community. Jodie Gillon, CEO of BioCT of the state’s biotech advocacy group, said that this is what biopharma now is: the wins are home runs.
A big year for Connecticut biotech acquisitions
The Halda deal is the second multibillion-dollar acquisition involving a Connecticut biotech company this year. In early 2025, Merck purchased Stamford-based SpringWorks Therapeutics for $3.4 billion, adding its rare-tumour treatment portfolio to Merck’s pipeline. New Haven also saw a significant acquisition in 2022 when Pfizer bought Biohaven Pharmaceuticals for $11.6 billion.
The J&J–Halda acquisition is expected to close in the coming months.
