Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), SKB-264, met the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) in a phase III trial in patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), according to an interim analysis.
Both China’s NMPA and the U.S. FDA recently approved the IND applications for a phase I trial of Leads Biolabs’ LBL-034 to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The Taiwan FDA also approved Hanchorbio Inc.’s IND application to start a multiregional phase I trial for HCB-101 for advanced solid tumors, and the China Center for Drug Evaluation cleared a phase II trial for Suzhou, China-based Transcenta Holding Ltd.’s TST-002 (blosozumab) for osteoporosis and conditions of reduced bone mineral density. In addition, the NMPA approved Shanghai-based Everest Medicines Ltd.’s application for an extended, post-approval study on Nefecon (targeted-release formulation-budesonide) to treat IgA nephropathy.
South Korean biopharma Connext Co. Ltd. is set on outdoing standard-of-care therapies for Dupuytren’s contracture. The Daegu-headquartered Connext recently secured U.S. FDA IND approval for a phase I/II trial on its recombinant collagenase clostridium histolyticum, called CNT-201, inching closer to its goal of providing an affordable but high-quality therapeutic option for patients with the rare, progressive connective tissue disorder.
Clinical data in the first half of 2023 is up 1.51% compared to the same time period last year. So far in 2023 BioWorld reported on 1,810 drugs in phase I-III, compared to 1,783 in the first half of 2022. The number of trial updates is down 13.6% from the 2,095 in 2021, but more than 2020’s 1,799 and 2019’s 1,477.
South Korean pharmaceutical company Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. may have found its footing after its misstep with Sanofi SA in 2020 for efpeglenatide, its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. On July 31, Hanmi announced that the once-dropped drug would be developed to treat obesity in the Korean population, submitting an IND application to the MFDS on July 28 to examine the once-a-week injection efpeglenatide in a phase III trial.
Top-line results show a disappointing placebo effect that resulted in Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd./Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s ulotaront (SEP-363856) missing the primary endpoints in both the Diamond (Developing Innovative Approaches for Mental Disorders) 1 and Diamond 2 trials in schizophrenia.
Taking strides from its start as a Seoul National University laboratory, South Korea’s Cellid Co. Ltd. said July 24 that the MFDS approved an IND for the global phase III trial for its omicron variant-targeting COVID-19 vaccine called AdCLD-CoV19-1 OMI. Approval from the MFDS comes two months after Cellid filed the IND on May 23 for its adenovirus vector platform vaccine “capable of responding quickly to virus mutations,” the company said.
Artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery specialist Insilico Medicine Inc. is progressing INS018-055, its lead compound to phase II trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease that results in progressive and irreversible decline in lung function.
China’s Center for Drug Evaluation has cleared Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Group Co. Ltd.’s KRAS G12C inhibitor, glecirasib (JAB-21822), to begin a phase III pivotal study for pancreatic cancer.
Haemalogix Ltd.’s monoclonal antibody Kappamab met all primary endpoints in a phase IIb trial that combined the MAb with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in kappa-type multiple myeloma patients who had relapsed or become refractory to other treatments.
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