-
Advances differentiated immunology program with the potential to address significant unmet need in immune-mediated disease
-
Novel in vivo CAR-T platform is designed to generate CAR-T therapies directly within the body, enabling scalable treatments with durable, disease-modifying, and curative potential
-
Strengthens Johnson & Johnson’s leadership in immunology and CAR-T innovation
-
Grants Johnson & Johnson an exclusive option to acquire Sail
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (July 29, 2026) – Johnson & Johnson1(NYSE: JNJ) today announced strategic agreements and collaboration with Sail Biomedicines (Sail), a biotechnology company developing in vivo CAR-T therapies for immune-mediated diseases. Johnson & Johnson will collaborate with Sail to advance its lead immune-mediated disease program and broader platform technology, with incentives to expand the application of Sail’s in vivo CAR-T platform across additional therapeutic targets over time. Johnson & Johnson2 will also make an equity investment in Sail. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson has been granted an exclusive option to acquire Sail for $2.58 billion.
In vivo CAR-T therapies represent one of the most promising frontiers in medicine, with the potential to deliver transformative therapies across a range of cancer and immune-mediated diseases. Unlike traditional cell therapies, Sail’s lead program and platform are designed to reprogram a patient’s immune cells directly within the body, with the goal of resetting the immune system and delivering durable disease control. Through this collaboration, Johnson & Johnson and Sail will combine their expertise to advance innovative in vivo CAR-T therapies that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and ultimately deliver curative treatment approaches for people living with complex diseases.
“People living with serious immune-mediated diseases continue to need treatments that can deliver deeper, more durable disease control,” said John Reed, Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicine Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. “Sail’s innovative platform represents an exciting new approach that seeks to harness the power of CAR-T therapy in a simpler, more scalable way. By working together with Sail, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that have the potential to fundamentally transform how immune-mediated diseases are treated.”
Building on its leadership in immunology and established expertise in CAR-T therapy within oncology, Johnson & Johnson continues to invest in emerging technologies with the potential to reshape disease treatment and transform patient outcomes. The agreement with Sail expands the Company’s capabilities in in vivo CAR-T, strengthens its position at the forefront of immune system reprogramming and immune reset, and creates opportunities to advance future programs across a range of complex diseases.
Under the terms of the agreements, Johnson & Johnson would make total initial payments of $785 million3, including a $465 million equity investment, and additional contingent payments of $140 million if certain development milestones are achieved. Subject to Johnson & Johnson’s decision to exercise the option, Johnson & Johnson would make an additional payment of $2.58 billion. Assuming exercise of the option, Johnson & Johnson expects the agreements to dilute adjusted operational earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share by approximately $0.18 in 2026 and approximately $1.28 in 2027. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC on the date of this press release for updated full year 2026 guidance.
The transactions are subject to applicable regulatory approvals and/or other conditions.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity.