Johnson & Johnson buys depression drug and its manufacturer for $15B

Pharmaceutical and biotech giant Johnson & Johnson has confirmed it intends to buy Intra-Cellular Therapies for $14.6 billion, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg

Intra-Cellular Therapies is a drug developer that specializes in treatments for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Its most popular product, Caplyta (lumateperone), has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bipolar disorder and bipolar depression in adults. It’s also used on patients who suffer from schizophrenia as an oral treatment of symptoms. 

Under the terms of the deal, Johnson & Johnson will gain access to the drug and its associated patents. Intra-Cellular Therapies is currently seeking FDA approval for expanded use of the drug as a treatment for major depressive disorder. 

Caplyta has only been available as a prescription remedy for some nine months but has already brought in more than $481 million in sales. 

Under the terms of the acquisition, Johnson & Johnson will be buying Intra-Cellular Therapies for $132 per share. At time of writing, the company sits at $127 per share, up 32% in a single day after the news broke. 

According to the Bloomberg report, Johnson & Johnson will make the purchase through a combination of cash and debt. 

The deal has not been finalized and is subject to regulatory approval. It’s unclear when that may take place. 

Chad Van Alstin Health Imaging Health Exec

Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.

Around the web

A string of executive orders from the White House created serious concerns among radiologists and other healthcare providers throughout the United States. The American College of Radiology issued a statement to help guide its members through the chaos. 

Bridgefield Capital, founded in 2015, has previously invested in such popular brands as Cirque Du Soleil, Del Monte and Quiksilver. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. 

Given the precarious excitement of the moment—or is it exciting precarity?—policymakers and healthcare leaders must set directives guiding not only what to do with AI but also when to do it.