The China NMPA’s Center for Drug Evaluation accepted Lepu Biopharma Co. Ltd.’s new drug application (NDA) for anti-PD-1 antibody candidate HX-008 (pucotenlimab). That comes after the company filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Innovent Biologics Inc. and Ascentage Pharma Group Corp. Ltd. inked a three-component collaboration that comes with joint commercialization of an NDA-stage Bcr-Abl inhibitor and co-development of combination therapies, as well as Innovent taking a stake in Ascentage. The collaboration involves a deal worth up to $145 million and a $50 million investment.
Cancer Research UK took a significant hit when its U.K.-wide charity shop chain had to close last year because of the pandemic. But, according to latest figures, its commercial arm could help it to bounce back after seeing its income more than double in the recent biotech boom. The organization reported record levels of investment in its spinout companies, which more than doubled in 2020-2021 compared with the previous year, jumping from £400 million (US$555 million) to £822 million (US$1.14 billion)
New evidence about the role of the RSK family of protein kinases in cancer has cut through conflicting experimental data to demonstrate they have different functions and that the RSK4 isoform is a promoter of drug resistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer.