Innovent Biologics Inc. unveiled for the first time safety and efficacy data of IBI-354, an HER2 monoclonal antibody-camptothecin derivative conjugate that shows promising efficacy signals across a range of advanced solid tumors, during the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress. An HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate developed using Innovent's topoisomerase inhibitor NT3 platform, IBI-354 combines a hydrophilic linker design with a hydrophobic payload to enhance the bystander effect, targeting adjacent antigen-low or negative tumor cells.

As Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co. go head-to-head in the U.S. and Chinese glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) market for diabetes and obesity, Novo Nordisk is in innovator gear once more with leading studies of GLP-1s in Alzheimer’s disease.

Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech companies are leading development of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co. edge closer to launching blockbuster therapies in China. At the heart of the GLP-1 boom is a nationwide obesity problem driven by a confluence of factors, including the rise of a modern, sedentary lifestyle, according to Clarivate. Despite the rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, the gap in obesity therapeutics is “substantial and leaves a solid market opportunity for weight loss drugs,” Karan Verma, principal analyst of healthcare research & data analytics at Clarivate, said.

More than three months ago, investors first learned that ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF-targeting bispecific antibody from Summit Therapeutics and Akeso Pharmaceuticals Inc., bested Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in PD-L1-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer over the weekend, Summit rolled out detailed data from the phase III Harmoni-2 trial, which included a nearly doubling of progression-free survival for ivonescimab compared to Merck & Co. Inc.’s established blockbuster drug.

After initially reporting that Xanamem failed to meet the primary endpoint in cognitive attention in the phase IIa Xanacidd cognition and depression trial, Actinogen Medical Ltd. CEO Steven Gourlay said a new analysis shows clinically and statistically significant benefits in depression.

All patients dosed in a phase IIa trial with Tryptamine Therapeutics Ltd.’s (Tryp) oral psilocybin (TRP-8802) trial reported an improvement in fibromyalgia pain severity, sleep, and pain interference.

Visen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s palopegteriparatide met both primary and secondary endpoints in the phase III Pathway trial conducted in China in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism, according to top-line data. In the 26-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Pathway trial, 77.6% of patients treated with palopegteriparatide achieved the primary multicomponent endpoint compared to 0% for placebo.