Laekna Inc. is handing ex-China rights to internally discovered PI3Kα pan-mutant selective inhibitor LAE-118 to U.S.-based Vasque Bio Inc. in a deal worth up to $527 million, marking another asset-monetization move by the Shanghai company as it looks to fund and accelerate development across its oncology and metabolic disease pipeline.

Oricell Therapeutics Holdings Ltd.’s glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeted autologous CAR T therapy, Ori-C101, is heading into a confirmatory registration phase II trial in patients with GPC3-positive advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, positioning it as the first GPC3-directed immune cell therapy – and the first CAR T therapy for liver cancer – to reach that stage of development.

China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved Suzhou Alphamab Co. Ltd.’s HER2 bispecific antibody, anbenitamab (KN-026), through priority review for adults with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received at least one trastuzumab-containing regimen.

Treatment with first-generation CAR T cells regularly sent patients to the intensive care unit. Now, investigators are envisioning a future where CAR T treatment could occur on an outpatient basis.

Innovent Biologics Co. Ltd.’s Claudin18.2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), arcotatug tavatecan (IBI-343, TAK-921), met the primary endpoint in the international multicenter phase III G-Hope-001 trial in advanced gastric cancer, according to interim results.

If the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago from May 30 to June 3 demonstrated anything about the evolution of China’s biotechnology sector, it was that the industry’s center of gravity is shifting. While Chinese companies once relied heavily on PD-1 antibodies and licensing deals to gain international visibility, this year’s oral presentations showcased a broader innovation base.

Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s potential $665 million deal for Oscotec Inc.’s cevidoplenib, a phase III-ready oral SYK inhibitor to treat immune thrombocytopenia, marks a new chapter of development focused on cancer therapy resistance for Oscotec, CEO Yoon Tae-young said.

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on June 4 granted conditional approvals to two oncology drugs from Lupeng Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Vcare Pharmatech Co. Ltd., as well as one hemophilia drug developed by Staidson Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Japan has granted marketing approval to Oncolys Biopharma Inc.’s oncolytic adenovirus product, Telomelysin (suratadenoturev, OBP-301), for treating esophageal cancer in patients who are not eligible for curative resection or chemoradiotherapy. The approval marks the first oncolytic adenovirus product approved for esophageal cancer.

Pfizer Inc. is paying Innovent Biologics Co. Ltd. $650 million up front and up to $9.85 billion in milestones, plus royalties, to collaborate across 12 early stage and de novo antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and multispecific antibodies for oncology.