Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced a research‑and‑development co‑funding agreement to advance the clinical development of the investigational oral menin inhibitor bleximenib (JNJ‑75276617) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The partnership, disclosed on February 23, 2026, provides BXLS with additional capital and access to J&J’s clinical development resources, while J&J gains a promising candidate that targets KMT2A gene rearrangements or NPM1 mutations found in up to 40% of AML cases.
Bleximenib is a first‑in‑class menin inhibitor that disrupts the interaction between menin and the MLL complex, a key driver of leukemogenesis in AML. Early‑phase studies have shown encouraging efficacy and a manageable safety profile, and the drug is currently progressing through Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials. The co‑funding agreement is expected to accelerate the transition of bleximenib into later‑stage studies and potentially expedite regulatory review.
The collaboration underscores BXLS’s strategy of partnering with large pharmaceutical companies to share the high costs and risks of late‑stage drug development. By combining BXLS’s financing expertise with J&J’s global clinical and regulatory capabilities, the partnership aims to shorten the development timeline and increase the likelihood of regulatory approval. For J&J, the deal expands its oncology pipeline with a novel mechanism of action that addresses a significant unmet need in AML.
Blackstone Inc., the parent company of BXLS, reported strong Q4 2025 results, with net income of $1.0 billion and total revenue of $4.36 billion, up from $3.08 billion in the same period last year. The company’s robust financial position provides a solid foundation for its life‑sciences division, enabling continued investment in high‑potential drug candidates such as bleximenib.
The partnership is significant for the AML treatment landscape, where survival rates remain low and therapeutic options are limited. By advancing a targeted therapy that addresses common genetic alterations, the co‑funding agreement could offer a new treatment pathway for patients with high‑risk AML and potentially improve outcomes in a disease with a historically poor prognosis.
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