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.
In a deal that brings $60 million in cash and equity up front, plus up to $575 million in milestone payments, Shanghai-based Epimab Biotherapeutics Inc. and San Diego-based Vignette Bio Inc. entered a licensing agreement for Epimab’s BCMA-targeting T-cell engager, EMB-06, for autoimmune disease.
The dark matter of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is shades brighter, after the signing of two major deals between biotech pioneers and big pharma in the past week. Haya Therapeutics SA announced Sept. 4 that it has sealed a multiyear agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to apply its lncRNA platform technology to identify targets in obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Yoltech Therapeutics Co. Ltd. licensed its PCSK9-targeting gene editing therapeutic, YOLT-101, to Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. for mainland China rights in a deal worth ¥1.035 billion (US$145 million).
Novartis Pharma AG continues to cut some of the biggest collaboration deals of the year through a new agreement with privately held subsidiary Lindy Biosciences Inc. The two plan to create self-administered injections for some Novartis medicines that are currently infused intravenously.
UCB SA is divesting its mature neurology and allergy business in China, selling those products to CBC Group and Mubadala Investment Co. for $680 million so it can refocus on innovation and partnerships in China. The deal includes UCB’s manufacturing site in Zhuhai in Guangdong province.
As Bridgebio Pharma Inc. awaits word from the U.S. FDA regarding the small-molecule transthyretin (TTR) stabilizer acoramidis for TTR-mediated amyloidosis cardiomyopathy, the firm closely followed this week’s headline about another spinout with news that the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company has signed a joint research pact with Hitgen Ltd., of Chengdu, China.
There was more juice to be extracted from the grape that was the very successful Chinook Therapeutics Inc., so two investors have decided to make the most of it. Novartis AG and Versant Ventures have launched Borealis Biosciences Inc. from Chinook’s remnants to develop RNA therapies for treating kidney disease.
Adcendo ApS has inked a deal with Multitude Therapeutics Inc. and is licensing Multitude’s phase I-ready antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), ADCE-T02, which targets tissue factor. Under the deal, Copenhagen, Denmark-based Adcendo gains exclusive development and commercialization rights for the ADC globally, excluding greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) where Multitude retains all rights.
A week after the U.S. FDA spurned Lykos Therapeutics Inc.’s bid for approval of a therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shares of Alzamend Neuro Inc. (NASDQ:ALZN) zoomed upward on more news in the indication with a next-generation, cocrystal lithium compound AL-001. Atlanta-based Alzamend’s stock closed Aug. 19 at $5.85, up $3.82, or 188%.
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