J&J to buy neurological drugmaker Intra-Cellular for $14.6B

Johnson & Johnson will buy drugmaker Intra-Cellular Therapies for about $14.6 billion, boosting its presence in the market for neurological disorder treatments, Report informs via Reuters.

J&J will buy all of Intra-Cellular's shares for $132 apiece, representing a 39% premium to their Friday closing price.

Shares of Intra-Cellular rose 35% to $128 in premarket trading.

The deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions by J&J as it looks to drive growth beyond 2025, when its blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelara could face competition from as many as six biosimilar versions in the US.

With the latest deal, J&J will gain access to Intra-Cellular's oral drug Caplyta, which is approved to treat schizophrenia and depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. The treatment brought in $481.3 million in sales in the first nine months of 2024.

Intra-Cellular is also seeking expanded regulatory approval in the US for Caplyta as an add-on therapy for major depressive disorder.

The company is also testing another therapy, ITI-1284, in mid-stage studies for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and Alzheimer's-related psychosis and agitation.