Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has received clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the company’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), SIM-0686, for FGFR2b-positive, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

In a roadmap to change animal testing requirements for INDs, the U.S. FDA said its new approach will improve drug safety, hasten the evaluation process, and lower costs for companies and patients. It’s another step in a process of changing rules put in place decades ago.

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has obtained clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for SYH-2046 for heart failure after acute myocardial infarction.

Curevac NV announced that the FDA has cleared its IND application for a phase I clinical study of CVHNLC in patients with squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC). CVHNLC is Curevac’s investigational mRNA-based precision immunotherapy.

Biomedical research seems like it should be the ultimate bipartisan issue. But under the Trump administration, unless and until Congress regains its will to make use of its constitutional powers, bipartisan support for research seems to be a thing of the past. On March 3, members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine warned that the second Trump administration has been waging a “wholesale assault” on American research.

Resvita Bio Inc.’s RVB-003 has been awarded orphan drug designation by the FDA for the skin disorder Netherton syndrome. RVB-003 was previously granted rare pediatric disease designation.

Sun Pharma Advanced Research Co. Ltd. has filed an IND application with the FDA for SBO-154 for the treatment of solid tumors. A global phase I study is planned in advanced solid tumors.

Epicrispr Biotechnologies Inc. has secured $68 million in the first close of its series B financing to support the clinical development of EPI-321, a first-in-class epigenetic therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

Pleco Therapeutics BV has held a successful pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss the continued development of PTX-252, an intravenous formulation designed to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Palatin Technologies Inc. has obtained U.S. orphan drug designation for PL-7737 for leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency, including obesity caused by this condition.