Japan’s economy has remained stagnant for the last few decades, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has heralded the biotech industry as a strategic industry to attract global partners, which was also one of the expectations for the BioJapan 2023 conference held Oct. 10-12 in Yokohama, drawing attendees from more than 37 countries and was the first live biotech industry event that welcomed foreigners since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Astellas Pharma Inc. has divulged proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds acting as GTPase KRAS (G12D mutant) degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Upbeat phase III findings outweighed less encouraging late-stage trial news, as big pharma provided a mixed bag of cancer findings – with one data batch to form the basis of global approval bids, as Astrazeneca plc with Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. unveiled interim results from a study called Tropion-Breast01. Targeting trophoblast cell surface antigen 2, datopotamab deruxtecan (dato) hit the mark in progression-free survival for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low or negative breast cancer in the study called Tropion-Breast01.
Astellas Pharma Inc. and Mitobridge Inc. have synthesized stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, neurodegeneration, type I interferonopathy and Sjögren’s syndrome.
Modalis Therapeutics Corp. – previously Edigene Corp. – has regained full rights to two gene therapy candidates for muscle disorders, MDL-201 and MDL-202, that were co-developed with Astellas Pharmaceutical Inc. since 2019.
Modalis Therapeutics Corp. – previously Edigene Corp. – has regained full rights to two gene therapy candidates for muscle disorders, MDL-201 and MDL-202, that were co-developed with Astellas Pharmaceutical Inc. since 2019.
Iveric Bio Inc. is now the second biotech to gain U.S. clearance for geographic atrophy – snagging U.S. FDA approval on Aug. 4 for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) to treat GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The once-monthly Izervay 2-mg injection is anticipated to be available in the U.S. in two to four weeks, said Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., which recently acquired Iveric in May 2023.
Iveric Bio Inc. is now the second biotech to gain U.S. clearance for geographic atrophy – snagging U.S. FDA approval on Aug. 4 for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) to treat GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The once-monthly Izervay 2-mg injection is anticipated to be available in the U.S. in two to four weeks, said Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., which recently acquired Iveric in May 2023.
Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Inc. is scouting for more novel targeted protein degrader (TPD) therapeutics, having added a research and licensing deal with Peptidream Inc. to its shopping cart filled with TPD promises.
Astellas Pharma Inc. has divulged substituted quinolone derivates acting as acetylcholine receptor cluster inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders.
