Johnson & Johnson subsidiary licenses Argos technology

Argos Therapeutics has licensed one of its non-core drug technologies to a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, it said Friday.
The Durham company said Therakos, a J&J company focused on therapies for immune diseases, will develop drugs based on Argos' "regulatory T cell" technology.
Terms weren't disclosed, though the company said in a statement that the J&J deal is nondilutive. An Argos official wasn't immediately available for comment.
The Argos technology helps boost production of regulatory T cells. The cells help the immune system figure out the difference between the body's own cells and "antigens," any foreign substance that stimulates an immune response. The technology could be used to treat a variety of diseases, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and others.
It is not, however, Argos' main technology. That drug platform is being used to develop treatments for kidney cancer, HIV and leukemia. Argos is developing the drugs with Japanese company Kirin.
"The licensing agreement with Therakos will enable accelerated development of an asset outside our primary focus," Argos CEO John Bonfiglio said in a written statement. "This transaction further demonstrates our ability to leverage Argos' leading immunotherapy science both through our own programs as well as through collaborations with select corporate partners. Argos continues to advance its proprietary portfolio of immunotherapies for indications such as cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders and transplantation."
Source: bizjournals.com