Cessation Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA to initiate a first-in-human trial of CSX-1004 for the prevention of fentanyl overdose. The trial in healthy volunteers is expected to begin next month.

Avencell Therapeutics Inc. has received approval from the EMA for its clinical trial application (CTA) for AVC-201 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other selected hematologic malignancies positive for CD123. A phase I study will be conducted in Germany.

Mabwell (Shanghai) Bioscience Co. has received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its clinical trial application for 7MW-3711 for advanced malignant solid tumors.

Mabwell (Shanghai) Bioscience Co. Ltd. has received clearance by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its clinical trial application for 9MW-2921 for advanced solid tumors.

Adcentrx Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for ADRX-0706 for the treatment of select advanced solid tumors.

Tucked into the 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion spending bill for fiscal 2023 that U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law Dec. 23 is a small provision that may have outsized impact on future biosimilar and other drug development. Championed by lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum, the provision modernizes the data that can be used to support drug development, including alternatives to animal studies.

Innocare Pharma Ltd. has received IND approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to begin clinical trials of its B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) inhibitor ICP-248.