Jyong Biotech Ltd. raised $20 million from its Nasdaq debut June 17 to advance a pipeline of botanical drugs targeting male urinary disorders. The New Taipei City, Taiwan-headquartered company’s shares began trading under the ticker MENS, and closed at $10.11 apiece at the bell, up 34.80% from its listing price of $7.50 per share. Shares had kicked up to $15 at opening, reaching double its offering price.
Draig Therapeutics Ltd. launched with a $140 million series A and an AMPA receptor modulator program that has completed phase I and will start a phase II trial in major depressive disorder later in 2025. The series A also will enable the company to advance two small-molecule GABA receptor modulators that have the potential to treat a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, into the clinic in 2026.
Four biotech companies from South Korea announced new or planned financings mid-June, including GC Genome Corp. Rznomics Inc., G2Gbio Inc. and Mezzion Pharma Co. Ltd. Six major mid-June deals included R&D pacts between Y-Biologics Inc. and Crosspoint Therapeutics, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Salipro Biotech AB, Next & Bio Inc. and GC Cell Corp., Galux Inc. and Hanall Biopharma Co. Ltd., Celltrion Inc. and Onconic Therapeutics Inc., and SK Plasma Co. Ltd. and Aimedbio Inc.
For years, the biopharma industry has spent increasing amounts of money on R&D without improving success rates, leaving many executives searching for new, more predictable drug development paths.