Immuno-oncology company Imugene Ltd. announced an AU$80 million (US$53.9 million) capital raise that will allow the company to add additional studies within its immuno-oncology pipeline as well as pursue potential licensing opportunities. The funds raised will allow the company to interrogate its pipeline further in other indications or combinations, Imugene CEO Leslie Chong told BioWorld. “There’s a lot we could do with our current pipeline, and now our cashflow is greatly extended.”

Startup Avelos Therapeutics Inc. raised $8 million in series A funding that will launch the company’s biomarker-driven cancer therapy pipeline using its synthetic lethality platform. Participating in the series A funding were SV Investment, UTC Investment, Quad Investment Management, Timepolio Asset Management, Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Mirae Asset Capital.

Genexine Co. Ltd.’s DNA vaccine, GX-188E, showed potential in extending overall survival in patients with advanced cervical cancer in a phase II study when given in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The Seoul, Korea-based company analyzed 60 patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 or HPV-18-positive advanced cervical cancer who had progressed after standard-of-care therapy.

Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has raised HK$471.1 million (US$60 million) in net proceeds through an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Sept. 1. It plans to use about three-quarters of the proceeds to advance clinical trials of two of its core anticancer candidates, YH-003 and YH-001. Company shares (HKEX:2315), initially offered at HK$25.22 each, closed at HK$26 on their first trading day.

Australian radiopharmaceutical company Advancell Co. Ltd. closed an AU$18 million (US$12.4 million) series B round that will take its lead targeted alpha-emitting radiotherapy, ADVC-001, for metastatic prostate cancer to the clinic by the end of 2022.

Japan’s Healios K.K. is in discussions with Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agenc about the regulatory path forward for its Multistem somatic stem cell products, for which it conducted phase II/III trials in ischemic stroke and a phase II trial in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

A subsidiary of Jiangxi Jemincare Group Co. Ltd. has out-licensed global rights to its androgen receptor degrader JMKX-002992 to Roche Holding AG and its subsidiary Genentech Inc. in a deal worth up to $650 million.