Johnson & Johnson halted its Phase IIb Duplex-AD trial of bispecific antibody JNJ-95475939 after the study failed to meet the efficacy bar, the company disclosed. J&J had acquired the asset via a $1.25 billion purchase of Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (Numab) in 2024 and positioned the molecule to target IL-4Ra and IL-31 in atopic dermatitis. The program’s discontinuation underscores risks in translating bispecific approaches into meaningful clinical benefit, particularly for complex immunologic skin diseases. J&J said the decision followed pre-specified interim assessments and will shape future resource allocation within its immunology portfolio. Analysts pointed to the growing scrutiny on multispecific antibody strategies and the need for clear differentiation from established IL-4/IL-13 and JAK inhibitor therapies. For the acquired Numab platform, the setback may slow further internal bispecific work or prompt licensing discussions. Investors should watch J&J’s pipeline notes and any follow-up analyses the company publishes on secondary endpoints or biomarker signals that informed the stop decision.