Although efforts focused on COVID-19 continue to fade and there are fewer collaborations than in previous years, the biopharma industry has recorded record value from mega-deals in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, topping all recent years, as executives continue to opt against costly mergers and acquisitions.
Shionogi & Co. Ltd.’s plan to make ensitrelvir, an oral antiviral for COVID-19, the first domestically approved COVID-19 treatment has hit a snag. Animal studies showed the drug, also known as S-217622, disturbed fetal development, according to media reports.
Beigene Ltd.’s BTK inhibitor Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) has met the primary endpoints in a phase III trial to treat patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.
Through a $600 million deal, Juniper Biologics Pte. Ltd. has acquired rights from Kolon Life Science Inc. to develop and commercialize TG-C LD (Tissuegene-C low dose) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Singapore-based Juniper will hold the rights for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and be responsible for developing and commercializing the candidate within those regions.
China’s Ministry of Science and Technology issued a draft rule on regulations governing sharing of human genetic resources that provides clarity on parts of the regulation that were previously ambiguous, Katherine Wang, partner at Ropes & Gray in Shanghai, told BioWorld.
Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has acquired greater China rights to two candidates from Lenz Therapeutics Inc. for the treatment of presbyopia in greater China in a deal worth up to $110 million. San Diego-based Lenz will receive $15 million in up-front payments, up to $95 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and potential royalty payments based on net sales.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced 2022 drug price revisions that became effective on April 1. Across the board, the cuts averaged about 6.6%, which translates to more than ¥600 billion (US$4.73 billion), and the pace of cuts is expected to accelerate. Price cuts in 2021 were worth roughly ¥430 billion.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, including: Akeso, Ascentage, Astellas, Biosion, Cstone, Innovent, Inventisbio, Pharmabcine, Pyxis, Qihan, Seagen.
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Akston, Antengene, Athersys, Beigene, Direct Biologics, Eurcure, Everest, Healios, Kintor, Meji Seika, Sanbio, United Biomedical, VBI Vaccines, Veru.
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