As geopolitical tensions rise between the U.S. and China, building cross-border relationships is more important than ever, said panelists during the Chinabio Partnering Forum in Shanghai Sept. 10.
Navigator Medicines Inc. is charting a course through the autoimmune disease drug landscape, having raised $100 million in a series A funding round to advance an OX40 ligand (OX40L)-targeted portfolio licensed from South Korea’s Imbiologics Corp.
Drug and device sponsors conducting clinical trials in China to support U.S. FDA approval may want to reconsider their choice of trial sites, as trials conducted at hospitals and clinics affiliated with China’s military or in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region could be in for increased scrutiny.
Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s NNZ-2591 met the primary endpoints in a phase II trial in children with Angelman syndrome, with improvements seen in clinically important aspects of the disease, including communication, behavior, cognition and motor abilities, Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher said during an Aug. 9 conference call.
Cullinan Therapeutics Inc. terminated development of Harbour Biomed Holdings Ltd.’s bispecific B7H4 x 4-1BB immune activator, CLN-418 (HBM-7008), after reviewing phase I data.
China’s Genor Biopharma Co. Ltd. agreed to out-license GB-261, its bispecific antibody candidate primarily targeting B-cell lymphomas, to TRC 2004 Inc., a U.S.-based newco co-founded by Third Rock Ventures LLC and Two River Group Holdings LLC.
Tokyo-headquartered Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. said Aug. 1 that it will acquire Boston-based Jnana Therapeutics Inc. through a potential $1.125 billion M&A deal. Under the terms, Otsuka will work to close the transaction by the third quarter of 2024, with $800 million paid out to Jnana shareholders, along with up to $325 million in additional development and regulatory milestones payments.
Instil Bio Inc. plans re-energize the company by in-licensing the development and commercial rights to antibodies outside of China from Shanghai-based Immuneonco Biopharmaceuticals Inc. In return, Immuneonco is getting an undisclosed up-front payment and the chance for near-term payments of up to $50 million.
Ideaya Biosciences Inc. bought global rights to Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s cancer-targeting bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (bsADC) program in a deal reaching up to $406.5 million.
Immunotherapy-focused biotech company LTZ Therapetics Inc. raised $20 million in a series A round that will advance development of its myeloid engager pipeline to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Proceeds from the funds will accelerate development of lead asset LTZ-301, which is expected to enter the clinic in early 2025, LTZ founder and CEO Robert Li told BioWorld.