BEIJING – Zhongshan-based Akeso Inc., which focuses on bispecific antibodies, is again seeking pre-revenue listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), after its first IPO attempt failed to go through in December. The move comes at a time when analysts believe the coronavirus outbreak is weighing on the city’s IPO market. The second application, submitted on Feb. 3, was again supported by Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan. The clinical-stage biotech is reportedly seeking $300 million to support its R&D through the IPO, particularly its core asset, AK-104, a PD-1/CTLA4 bispecific antibody.

The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: Aurolife, CDC, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, FDA, Glaxosmithkline, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Sanofi, U.S. Court of Appeals, World Health Organization.

HONG KONG – In another example that communication is proving as difficult as containment in the current coronavirus outbreak, China’s state media reported, to increasing skepticism, that a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) oral liquid could inhibit the new coronavirus.

In its first step into Japan, Agex Therapeutics Inc. accelerates its development of engineering hypoimmunogenic cells, universal cells that can be used on patients who didn’t generate the original cell and without the need to use immunosuppressants.

PERTH, Australia – Mesoblast Ltd. has filed the final module of its rolling BLA submission for its allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cell therapy, remestemcel-L, after it showed strong survival rates in children with acute steroid-refractory graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD).