• Janssen Biotech Inc., of Horsham, Pa., said it inked a deal with Astellas Pharma Inc., of Tokyo, for the worldwide development and commercialization, except in Japan, of ASP015K, an oral, small-molecule Janus kinase inhibitor currently in Phase IIb development as a once-daily treatment for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Under the terms, Janssen, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, gains exclusive rights to ASP015K in exchange for an undisclosed up-front payment, future milestone payments and royalties. Astellas will be responsible for completing the ongoing Phase IIb studies, and Janssen will be responsible for all other development, clinical and regulatory filing activities in its territories. Astellas will continue development and commercialization of ASP015K in Japan.

• Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, and H. Lundbeck A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said they submitted a new drug application for vortioxetine (Lu AA21004) for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. Vortioxetine is thought to work through a combination of complementary mechanisms: receptor activity modulation and reuptake inhibition. The drug was part of 2007 strategic alliance between Lundbeck and Takeda.