Beijing Luzhu Biotechnology Co. Ltd.’s shingles vaccine LZ-901 outperformed GSK plc’s Shingrix (HZ/su) vaccine in a head-to-head phase III trial. A recombinant herpes zoster vaccine candidate independently developed by Luzhu, LZ-901 is the company’s core product.

G2Gbio Inc. debuted on the Korea Exchange with a ₩52.2 billion (US$37.7 million) IPO Aug. 14. Nearly half of the funds raised will be used to expand Cheongju-si, South Korea-based G2Gbio’s manufacturing plants and help mass produce sustained-release injectable drug products such as GB-5001, its lead candidate in development as a once-monthly formulation of donepezil (Aricept; Eisai Co. Ltd.) for Alzheimer’s disease.

The amount of money raised through global biopharma IPOs in the first seven months of 2025 is at the lowest level since 2016, and more than half of the 13 completed through July were done on ex-U.S. exchanges. Only five of the companies have U.S. roots, while the rest are based in Asia: four in China, two in South Korea, one in Taiwan and one in Hong Kong.

“Our mission is to apply our protein-protein interaction (PPI) big data-generation platform to create novel antibody therapeutics,” Proteina Co. Ltd. CEO Yoon Tae-young recently told BioWorld.

Aussie gene therapy company Mirugen Pty Ltd. has emerged from stealth mode from the Center for Eye Research Australia in Melbourne, toting a AU$4.5 million (US$2.9 million) seed round that will see it optimize its lead candidate to treat retinitis pigmentosa.

Singapore-based Immortal Dragons has launched with $40 million under management, mostly from its founder Boyang Wang, with a focus on investing in early stage companies developing treatments to extend life.

CSL Ltd.’s stock tumbled 16.88% on the news that it plans to cut 3,000 jobs and to hive off its Seqirus vaccine unit in a cost-cutting measure to save more than $500 million per year over the next three years.