HONG KONG – A Hong Kong-based biotechnology company that specializes in in-licensing products for marketing in China will work with a partner in South Korea and one in Europe in a late-stage clinical development program for the oncolytic immunotherapy Pexa-Vec (JX-594/TG6006).
With its feet planted on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and its ambitions nearly as wide, Ruiyi Inc. netted a $15 million series B round from its existing investors, which include 5AM Ventures, Versant Ventures, Apposite Capital, SR One, Merck Serono Ventures and Aravis SA.
China Biologic Products Inc., of Beijing, said it received the good manufacturing practice certification from the CFDA for its plasma production facility at its Guizhou subsidiary. That will allow the firm to resume full-scale commercial production later this month for all of its approved plasma products, including the newly approved human prothrombin complex concentrate.
SHANGHAI – Hua Medicine Ltd. has commenced a phase Ib trial for HMS5552, a glucokinase activator (GKA), in early stage type 2 diabetes patients in a multicenter, multidose study in China.
SHANGHAI – There are more bees than flowers in the China biopharma space, with venture capital (VC) interest outstripping the number of early stage companies with novel biologics to develop.
HONG KONG – Over the next year, health authorities in China plan to renew their focus on biotech development and continue funding research and development of new drugs to the tune of $3.2 billion.
Advaxis Inc., of Princeton, N.J., was issued Japanese Patent No. 5479918, “Compositions and Methods for Enhancing Immunogenicity of Antigens.” The patent covers the use of ADXS-HPV for the treatment of late-stage cervical cancer.
HONG KONG – Vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s positive results from a phase III clinical trial for its enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) are welcome news in China since HFMD has emerged as a health scourge in China.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Kyungkido, South Korea, and Access Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, entered an exclusive license agreement related to Mugard commercialization in South Korea. Under the terms, Access will receive an up-front licensing fee and double-digit royalties on net sales of Mugard in the licensed territory. Mugard is an oral mucoadhesive that is designed to manage oral mucositis by forming a protective hydrogel coating over the oral mucosa to shield the membranes of the mouth and tongue. Terms were not disclosed.
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