Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. struck a licensing deal with Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. for sapablursen, which is in phase II trials for polycythemia vera. Under terms, Osaka, Japan-based Ono gains an exclusive license to develop and commercialize sapablursen worldwide. Carlsbad, Calif.-based Ionis will be responsible for completing the ongoing phase II Imprssion study, while Ono will be responsible for subsequent development, regulatory filings and commercialization.
Celltrion Inc. is on a biosimilar roll with the U.S. FDA this month, having gained clearance of Stoboclo and Osenvelt as products referencing Amgen Inc.’s biologic, denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva), along with Omlyclo becoming the first and only interchangeable biosimilar to omalizumab (Xolair, Genentech Inc. and Novartis AG).
Aim Vaccine Co. Ltd. may become the first company to gain regulatory clearance of a prophylactic iterative serum-free human rabies vaccine. Beijing-based Aim said it is preparing a regulatory submission of its independently developed rabies vaccine based on positive phase III results that showed good safety, immunogenicity and immune persistence.
The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) juggernaut powers on, with Japan’s Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. set to acquire Araris Biotech AG for up to $1.14 billion. Of that, $400 million will be up front, with the remainder tied to milestones with a maximum value of $740 million, around the progress of three ADCs for treating solid and hematological cancers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) drug developer Insilico Medicine raised $110 million in a series E round led by an Asian private equity fund, Value Partners Group, that will see Insilico advance its pipeline and AI platform developments.
Visen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. announced its initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock exchange (HKEX) to raise roughly HKD$603.3 million (US$77.6 million) to advance its pipeline of endocrinology assets.
Latest findings on Healios K.K.’s stem cell therapy to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), coined Multistem (invimestrocel; HLCM-051), found the regenerative medicine effective in reducing the number of patient days on ventilator treatment, as well as mortality benefits.
Biopharma deal activity climbed in early 2025, reaching $37.38 billion in the first two months, up from $35.66 billion a year ago. February saw $8.76 billion in deals, down 69% from January’s $28.63 billion, which included 11 transactions valued at $1 billion or more. Early 2025 saw the second-highest biopharma deal total on record, trailing only the $42.19 billion logged in the first two months of 2022.
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