Once-monthly subcutaneous injections of CSL Ltd.’s CSL-312 (garadacimab) significantly reduced the rate of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks compared to placebo, meeting both primary and secondary endpoints in the pivotal phase III Vanguard trial. Based on the trial results, CSL will file global regulatory submissions later in 2023. Based on the trial results, CSL will file global regulatory submissions later in 2023. A humanized anti-factor XIIa monoclonal antibody, garadacimab is self-administered by subcutaneous administration once monthly, which is a huge convenience for patients, Andrew Nash, CSL’s chief scientific officer and senior vice president for research, told BioWorld.
Transthera Sciences Inc., a Nanjing, China-based company developing small-molecule therapies in cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease, raised ¥260 million (US$38 million) in a series D+ funding round to advance its first drug product.
Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Adimmune, Biocytogen, Biosenic, Celltrion Healthcare, Chipscreen, Clover, Cue, Essex Bio-Technology, Fatiabgen, Gilead Sciences, Kinnate, Kinnjiu, Liscure, Myeloid, Ono, Ordaōs, Shanghai Henlius, Shenzhen Pregene.
An international team of researchers has created two bat stem cell lines that reveal an unusual number of viral sequences in bat cells compared with those of other mammals. Writing in an article posted online Feb. 21, 2023, in Cell, the scientists suggested that the unusual amount of viral genetic material found in the bat stem cells could explain why these mammals are largely unaffected by most viral infections, despite being able to transmit them.
Innocare Pharma Ltd. said it is open to new collaborations after partner Biogen Inc. decided to terminate a global deal to develop and commercialize BTK inhibitor orelabrutinib, in development for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. Notice of the termination, disclosed in Biogen’s fourth-quarter 2022 financial report, was “based on the contract term of ‘terminate for convenience,’” Innocare told BioWorld. “We do not know their internal decision-making process.”
Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc.’s small-molecule Pellino-1 inhibitor, BBT-401, failed to meet the primary efficacy endpoint in a phase II trial in ulcerative colitis (UC). The phase II mid-to-high dose cohort study included 38 patients with active UC enrolled at 37 clinical sites across the U.S., New Zealand, South Korea, Poland and Ukraine.