Janssen Pharmaceuticals, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, has acquired XO1, a U.K.-based privately held asset-centric virtual biopharmaceutical company founded to develop the anti-thrombin antibody ichorcumab. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Ichorcumab is a recombinant human antibody developed to mimic the activity of a human antibody which appears to produce an anticoagulated state without predisposition to bleeding.

The opportunity was identified and facilitated through Johnson & Johnson Innovation, London. "This acquisition illustrates how our global innovation strategy enables a local, hands-on approach that supports the regional life science ecosystems, provides Janssen a window on the most exciting science around the world and provides access to potentially breakthrough products in areas of strategic interest," said Patrick Verheyen, head, J&J Innovation, London.

Ichorcumab was initially developed by Cambridge University Hospitals and Cambridge University with support from Cambridge Enterprise, the University's commercialization arm. The technology was licensed by Cambridge Enterprise to XO1 in order to take its development towards the clinic. XO1 was established by Index Ventures as an asset centric company, a model advanced by Index, via a fund launched in 2012 in which J&J Innovation—JJDC is an investor.