South Korea is rolling out regulatory changes to speed biosimilar development, including reforms to shorten review timelines, ease phase III trial requirements and simplify oversight of manufacturing changes. 

Amplia Therapeutics Ltd. has halted recruitment in its phase II Amplicity trial in advanced pancreatic cancer due to three dose-limiting toxicities related to the chemotherapy regimen, modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX), which is being administered in combination with lead compound narmafotinib (AMP-945), a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor.

After nearly a year of threats and promises of a global biopharma tariff of 25% to 500%, U.S. President Donald Trump finally delivered it. In the name of national security, he imposed a 100% sector tariff on prescription drugs and their associated ingredients beginning in about four months for large manufacturers and six months for smaller companies.

Deep molecular advances are enabling precision medicine for the field of hematology, Wyndham Wilson said during a plenary session at the 2026 Korean Society of Hematology International Conference March 26.

Eli Lilly and Co. is deepening its investment in artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery through a multibillion-dollar expansion of its collaboration with Hong-Kong listed Insilico Medicine Inc. in a move that could broaden its reach into next-generation metabolic therapies. Under the deal terms, Insilico is eligible to receive $115 million up front, plus development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments worth $2.75 billion, in addition to sales-based royalties. In exchange, Lilly gains exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize multiple candidates generated using Insilico’s AI platform, including preclinical oral therapies.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is taking a neuroplastogen approach to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through its planned $1.22 billion acquisition of Transcend Therapeutics Inc. The deal gives Tokyo-headquartered Otsuka access to Transcend’s lead asset, TSND-201, an oral neuroplastogen that has begun patient recruitment for a phase III study in the U.S.

Innovent Biologics Inc.’s efdamrofusp alfa (IBI-302) met the primary endpoint in the phase III Star trial in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and the Suzhou, China-based company will submit an NDA to China’s National Medical Products Administration.

A next-generation triple incretin therapy jointly developed by Novo Nordisk A/S and China’s United Biotechnology outperformed semaglutide in a phase II trial, signaling intensifying competition in the GLP-1 obesity and diabetes market.

Subcutaneous formulation technology, microbiomes and oncological assets drove dealmaking in South Korea’s biotech sector this week. 

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.’s monoclonal antibody, rademikibart (CBP-201), met the primary endpoint in a Chinese phase III study in adults and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.