Unnatural Products Inc. notched another collaboration by signing on with Argenx SE in a multitarget research collaboration. Unnatural Products, which is getting up-front, near-term payments and R&D funding, could end up with about $1.5 billion in milestones and options payments. Argenx also is making an equity investment in Unnatural Products. The two plans to find and develop oral macrocyclic peptide drugs that target disease targets considered undruggable. In late 2023, Unnatural Products raised $32 million in a series A led by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Artis Ventures. A year later, in December 2024, Bridgebio Pharma Inc. exercised its option to license macrocyclic peptide candidates discovered using Unnatural Products’ platform. 

Beckley Atai deal to go forth on positive phase IIb depression data

The joining of psychedelic specialists Beckley Psytech Ltd. and Atai Life Science can now go ahead after the pair announced positive top-line results from the phase IIb study of BPL-003, an intranasal formulation of 5-MeO-DMT benzoate. The trial met all primary and key secondary endpoints, with a single dose of nasally administered BPL-003 having a rapid, robust and durable antidepressant effect in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The effect lasted for at least two months, with a single 8-mg or 12-mg dose providing clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in symptoms from as soon as day 2.

Torrent Pharma to buy JB Pharma from KKR in $3B M&A deal 

Torrent Pharmaceutical Ltd. will buy J. B. Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. from private equity firm KKR & Co. Inc. at an equity valuation of ₹256.89 billion (US$3 billion), which will then merge into one entity under Torrent Pharma. The merger is expected to boost Torrent Pharma’s ranking to become India’s fourth largest pharmaceutical company, according to local prescription data from SMSRC Private Ltd., presented by Torrent June 30. 

ACIP questions remain unanswered

While the first meeting of the U.S. CDC’s newly minted Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) is now recent history, questions about the makeup of the committee and its future direction remain unanswered. Last week’s meeting provided some indication of what’s in store – discussions of what had been long-settled issues with one-sided presentations, second-guessing FDA approval decisions and new work groups assigned to review current vaccine recommendations. Not discussed were any plans to bring the panel itself into compliance with the ACIP Charter and its Policies and Procedures document. As structured now, the seven-member committee appears to violate both documents.

Hong Kong to set up CMPR as medical products authority by 2026 

Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DH) announced plans to establish a new medical products regulatory agency called the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) by the end of 2026. Preliminary work for the regulatory body has been ongoing since last year, with a Preparatory Office for the CMPR established under the DH in June 2024. The news comes as more People’s Republic of China-based mainland companies continue to migrate to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) to raise capital this year.

Henlius licenses Hanchorbio’s phase II checkpoint inhibitor HCB-101 

Taiwan’s Hanchorbio Inc. is out-licensing its breakthrough checkpoint inhibitor, HCB-101, to Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. in a deal worth more than $200 million. Under the terms, Henlius gains exclusive development and commercialization rights to HCB-101 across greater China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau), key Southeast Asian countries, as well as all countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In exchange, Hanchorbio will receive an up-front payment of $10 million plus development- and regulatory-based milestones up to $192 million. Henlius will also pay tiered royalties and assume full responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialization in the licensed territories. Hanchorbio retains all rights outside the licensed regions.

Also in the news

Alto Neuroscience, AN2 Therapeutics, Argenx, Artelo Biosciences, Ashvattha Therapeutics, Aurinia, Avadel, Biofrontera, Biogen, Bridgebio, Cassava, Celcuity, Chemomab, Corbus, Esteve, Hansa Biopharma, Hemostemix, Hutchmed, Idorsia, Inmune Bio, Intensity Therapeutics, InvIos, Karolinska, Laverock Therapeutics, Mabwell, Medicus Pharma, Metabolics Pharma, MIRA, Moderna, Modus Therapeutics, NLS Pharmaceuticals, Oncolytics Biotech, OS Therapies, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Sobi, Stalicla, Takeda, Tempest, Titan Pharmaceuticals, TME Pharma, Tyra Biosciences, Windtree, Zyus Life Sciences