The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has agreed to provide Clover Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. with an additional $36.9 million to support development of SCB-2019, a recombinant trimeric Spike-protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine.
I-Mab Biopharma Co. Ltd. formed a partnership with Hubei Jumpcan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in a deal worth up to ¥2.016 billion (US$315.2 million) to develop, manufacture and commercialize recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) eftansomatropin alfa (TJ-101) in mainland China.
Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc. raised HK$2.03 billion (US$260.17 million) in its Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut. Shares closed at HK$12.98 (US$1.67) on Nov. 5 after trading as high as HK$13.56 earlier.
Antengene Corp. Ltd. has formed a partnership with Legochem Biosciences Inc. to jointly develop new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) primarily for cancer. The partners will integrate antibodies from Antengene with Legochem’s ADC technology.
Shouti Inc. raised $100 million in a series B round led by BVF Partners LP to advance its discovery platform for designing oral medicines and to speed up the development of its candidates. The Shanghai and California-based company has secured a total of $158 million in funding so far.
Shanghai Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. out-licensed global rights of its antitumor small-molecule chemical drug, SPH-6162, to U.S.-based Huya Bioscience International LLC in a deal worth up to $292.5 million, plus a sales commission of 3% to 6%.
Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has acquired a 73% stake of Antejin Biotech Co. Ltd. in a merger and acquisition deal worth up to ¥4.006 billion (US$626.2 million) to expand its pipeline in the field of bacterial vaccines. To kick off, Shanghai-based Fosun purchased about 32.52% equity interest in Antejin from nine shareholders for about ¥1.108 billion in cash.
China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) released a draft guide on clinical trials of drugs for rare disease as part of an ongoing push to encourage new drug development and nudge developers to focus on biomarkers, pharmacometrics and patient-reported outcomes. Both are needed to continue moving China’s R&D capabilities up the value chain and closer to being on par with the capabilities of other countries that are at the forefront of new drug development.
Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co. Ltd.’s Bilessglu (chiglitazar), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist globally for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, has received marketing approval from the NMPA in China.
Innovent Biologics Co. Ltd.’s phase III Orient-31 trial for sintilimab in EGFR-mutated nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (nsqNSCLC) met its primary endpoint. In combination with anti-VEGF antibody Byvasda (bevacizumab biosimilar injection) and chemotherapy, the treatment improved progression-free survival vs. chemotherapy alone. “The detailed results of Orient-31 will be released in 2021, and Innovent will file for the new drug application for that indication around early 2022,” Ronnie Ede, chief financial officer and executive director at Innovent, told BioWorld.