The FDA's Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee last week backed by a large margin cefiderocol for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), despite the mortality disparity found by Shionogi & Co. Ltd. among critically ill drug-treated patients in the descriptive phase III trial in severe infections called Credible-CR.

HONG KONG – South Korea's Chong Kun Dang (CKD) Pharmaceutical Corp. received approval for its novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein (NESP) biosimilar from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The drug (CKD-1110) is world's first NESP biosimilar to treat anemia.

Japan's Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. plans to pay $3 billion to acquire Roivant Sciences Ltd.'s ownership interests in five biopharma companies, plus options to acquire up to six more from the prolific company-builder. The deal, slated to close in October, would give Sumitomo Dainippon controlling interests in Myovant Sciences Inc., Urovant Sciences Inc., Enzyvant Therapeutics Inc. and Altavant Sciences Inc., as well as an equity stake of more than 10% in Roivant itself.

Tokyo-based Terumo Corp. already had a formal limited partner relationship with one U.S. venture firm, early medical device-focused, Mountain View, Calif.-based Emergent Medical Partners (EMP) that dates to 2013. Now it has added investment in two more venture firms, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Strategic Healthcare Investment Partners and Boston-based Catalyst Health Ventures.

HONG KONG – The trade feud between South Korea and Japan has worsened since the beginning of July, when the Japanese government said it would impose new regulations on exports to Korea. The new policies are mostly applied to elements of semiconductor technology but also includes some pharmaceutical components and devices, leading to concerns that the regulations will affect Korea's pharmaceutical sector.