Written By: Pharmacally Medical News Desk
Johnson & Johnson has officially completed its acquisition of Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc. for approximately $3.05 billion in cash. This deal brings Halda’s clinical-stage oncology programs and its proprietary Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimera (RIPTAC™) platform into J&J’s innovation engine, reinforcing the company’s focus on next-generation targeted cancer treatments.
The acquisition was formally closed on December 29, 2025, bringing Halda’s science and pipeline under the J&J umbrella after the agreement was first announced in mid-November.
In Pharmacally’s original article from November 18, 2025, we covered the announcement of the deal and highlighted the strategic and scientific rationale behind J&J’s interest in Halda and its RIPTAC™ platform. That piece noted how the acquisition could expand J&J’s oncology leadership, particularly in prostate cancer, and accelerate development of novel, orally available targeted therapies. The final closing now brings those plans into reality. (Reference: Pharmacally original coverage, November 18, 2025.)
At the heart of this acquisition is Halda’s RIPTAC™ technology, a novel modality that creates selective, bifunctional small molecules engineered to bring together a tumor-specific intracellular protein and an essential effector protein to trigger cancer cell death. This “hold-and-kill” mechanism aims to selectively eliminate cancer cells while sparing normal tissue.
The lead asset in the portfolio is HLD-0915, an orally administered therapy in clinical development for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Early Phase 1/2 data showed safety and signs of anti-tumor activity, including reductions in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and measured responses by established tumor criteria, particularly in patients with advanced disease who had exhausted prior treatments.
In addition to HLD-0915, the RIPTAC™ platform has generated other earlier-stage candidates targeting breast, lung, and other solid tumors, giving J&J a broader foundation for future growth in oncology and potentially beyond.
This acquisition aligns closely with J&J’s longstanding emphasis on innovation in cancer care. The company has invested in oncology for decades, and adding Halda’s technology and pipeline strengthens that base, particularly in targeted, oral therapies. J&J executives have underscored their commitment to advancing these programs with the aim of delivering differentiated treatment options for patients facing resistant cancers.
Operationally, J&J brings global R&D, regulatory, and manufacturing capabilities that can accelerate the clinical development and eventual commercialization of the RIPTAC™-based therapies. The combined expertise of J&J’s oncology teams and Halda’s scientific innovators is now positioned to expand the impact of these assets.
The acquisition is being accounted for as a business combination. J&J has stated there will be a modest dilution to adjusted earnings per share, estimated at about $0.20 spread between late 2025 and 2026. This reflects non-recurring charges linked to employee equity awards, integration costs, and financing.
J&J plans to discuss the acquisition’s financial impact as part of its upcoming earnings communications in early 2026.
Closing this acquisition marks a clear strategic step for J&J in oncology:
Expanded pipeline: HLD-0915 and other RIPTAC™ candidates add depth to J&J’s cancer portfolio.
Next-generation modalities: RIPTAC™ represents a new class of precision therapy that could overcome resistance mechanisms common in solid tumors.
Focus on oral therapies: Developing once-daily targeted treatments aligns with patient preferences and evolving standards in oncology drug design.
By bringing these assets into its fold, J&J is signaling a continued commitment to innovation in cancer care and a willingness to integrate early-stage, high-potential science into its development pipeline
References
Johnson & Johnson completes acquisition of Halda Therapeutics and its novel platform to revolutionize cancer treatment and enable next-generation oral therapies, 29 December 2025, https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-completes-acquisition-of-halda-therapeutics-and-its-novel-platform-to-revolutionize-cancer-treatment-and-enable-next-generation-oral-therapies
Johnson & Johnson Acquires Halda Therapeutics and Its RIPTAC Platform, 18 November 2025, https://pharmacally.com/johnson-johnson-acquire-halda-therapeutics-and-its-riptac-platform/