Biopharma deal values are continuing to track at a similar pace to last year, down only 0.31% compared to the first five months of 2022, while there have been 173 fewer deals. M&A values are at their lowest value in all years tracked by BioWorld (2016-2023).
Cellusion Inc. raised ¥2.83 billion (US$21 million) in a series C round to progress its lead therapy, CLS-001, an iPS cell-derived therapy to treat bullous keratopathy.
China’s NMPA granted a green light to China Medical System Holdings Ltd.’s tildrakizumab injection to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Sold under the brand name Ilumetri, tildrakizumab is a humanized lgG1/κ monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind to the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and inhibit its interaction with the IL-23 receptor to block the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
The U.S. FDA approved the temporary importation of the unapproved chemotherapy drug cisplatin from Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to help address a shortage of drugs used in cancer treatments in the U.S. The decision opened the possibility of more Chinese drugs making their way to the U.S. market, but some warned that this decision would be likely be a one-off.
Lynk Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. raised ¥200 million (US$28 million) in a series C1 financing round to accelerate the clinical development of its second-generation and third-generation JAK inhibitors for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Cutia Therapeutics Ltd. raised HK$465 million (US$65 million) in a Hong Kong IPO on June 12, with almost half of the proceeds going toward furthering its lead product to treat adipose accumulation. Cutia’s shares moved a little higher on the first day of trading, opening at HK$21.80, rising 0.46% and closing at HK$21.95.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, including: Akeso, Ascentage, Astrazeneca, Chimeric, CSPC, Daiichi Sankyo, Elevation Oncology, Iaso, Immutep, Immvira, Innovent, Nkgen, Transcenta.
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific: Amarin, American Regent, Ascentage, Astrazeneca, Beigene, Biophytis, Canbridge, Cocrystal, Daiichi Sankyo, Eddingpharm, Gilead, Hutchmed, Innovent, Inventiva, Novavax, Sino, SK, Takeda.