Biotheus Inc. out-licensed Chinese rights to its preclinical EGFR/MET bispecific antibody, PM-1080, to Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. for ¥50 million (US$359,150) up front and up to ¥1.42 billion in future development, regulatory and commercialization milestones, plus tiered sales-based royalties.
Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. has submitted a new drug application (NDA) for its anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody toripalimab to the European Medicines Agency, which marks the first NDA filing of toripalimab in Europe.
Astellas Pharma Inc.’s zolbetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Claudin 18.2, met the primary endpoint of progression-free survival in the phase III Spotlight trial in CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, according to top-line data.
Immutep Ltd.’s lead immunotherapy candidate eftilagimod (IMP-321, efti) met the primary endpoint in its phase II trial evaluating the combination of efti and Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as first-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), reporting final data that show an overall response rate of 40.4%.
Que Oncology Inc.’s Q-122 significantly reduced the frequency and severity of moderate and severe vasomotor symptoms, or hot flashes, in women taking endocrine therapy for breast cancer, and phase II results showed associated improvement in quality of life, compared with placebo.
GSK plc said it will restrict the second-line maintenance indication for ovarian cancer drug Zejula (niraparib) to only patients with deleterious or suspected germline BRCA mutations, at the request of the FDA, in a sign that U.S. regulators aren’t going to relax scrutiny on PARP inhibitors any time soon.
Radiopharmaceutical company Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd’s TLX250-CDx (Zirconium (89Zr) TX250) met both primary and secondary endpoints in the phase III Zircon study in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, according to top-line data.
Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s subsidiary Eucure Biopharma Co. Ltd. has granted Isu Abxis Co. Ltd. rights to use its humanized agonistic anti-CD40 antibody YH-003 to develop cancer drugs.
Zhuhai Beihai Biotech Co. Ltd. has raised nearly ¥200 million (US$27.5 million) in a series B round slated to support clinical trials for its lead candidates as well as preparations to file an NDA for its core asset, BH-009.
Diwali, the Festival of Light, marks different events depending on where it is celebrated. In some areas of India, it marks the return of Lord Rama to his birthplace of Ayodhya after defeating the demon Ravana.