Novavax Inc. has signed off 6.5 million shares to SK Bioscience Co. Ltd. for an $85 million equity investment from the South Korean pharmaceutical firm, which also wrote off some of Novavax’s manufacturing liabilities, as part of their continuing vaccine alliance. Seongnam-si, South Korea-based SK Bioscience purchased Novavax shares at $13 each, reflecting a 59% premium over the 90-day trading value, to gain a 6.45% stake in the Gaithersburg, Md.-based mRNA vaccine company, an SK Bioscience spokesperson confirmed to BioWorld.

Novavax Inc. has signed off 6.5 million shares to SK Bioscience Co. Ltd. for an $85 million equity investment from the South Korean pharmaceutical firm, which also wrote off some of Novavax’s manufacturing liabilities, as part of their continuing vaccine alliance. Seongnam-si, South Korea-based SK Bioscience purchased Novavax shares at $13 each, reflecting a 59% premium over the 90-day trading value, to gain a 6.45% stake in the Gaithersburg, Md.-based mRNA vaccine company, an SK Bioscience spokesperson confirmed to BioWorld.

Both China’s NMPA and the U.S. FDA recently approved the IND applications for a phase I trial of Leads Biolabs’ LBL-034 to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The Taiwan FDA also approved Hanchorbio Inc.’s IND application to start a multiregional phase I trial for HCB-101 for advanced solid tumors, and the China Center for Drug Evaluation cleared a phase II trial for Suzhou, China-based Transcenta Holding Ltd.’s TST-002 (blosozumab) for osteoporosis and conditions of reduced bone mineral density. In addition, the NMPA approved Shanghai-based Everest Medicines Ltd.’s application for an extended, post-approval study on Nefecon (targeted-release formulation-budesonide) to treat IgA nephropathy.

Amarin Corp. plc has chosen Taiwan-based Lotus Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to make headway in Southeast Asia and South Korea for omega-3 fatty acid-based Vazkepa, its icosapent ethyl drug that’s facing increasing generic and pricing pressure in the U.S. and Europe.

South Korean biopharma Connext Co. Ltd. is set on outdoing standard-of-care therapies for Dupuytren’s contracture. The Daegu-headquartered Connext recently secured U.S. FDA IND approval for a phase I/II trial on its recombinant collagenase clostridium histolyticum, called CNT-201, inching closer to its goal of providing an affordable but high-quality therapeutic option for patients with the rare, progressive connective tissue disorder.

Iveric Bio Inc. is now the second biotech to gain U.S. clearance for geographic atrophy – snagging U.S. FDA approval on Aug. 4 for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) to treat GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The once-monthly Izervay 2-mg injection is anticipated to be available in the U.S. in two to four weeks, said Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., which recently acquired Iveric in May 2023.

On Aug. 3, Sunho Biologics Inc. filed to list on the Hong Kong Exchange, armed with its antibody and immunocytokine drug pipeline and post-investment valuation of ¥1.41 billion (US$196 million).

Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. stands to gain up to $150 million from an assorted bouquet of private U.S. health care investors to lay a solid foundation for clinical trials of its leading dual-targeting CAR T-cell candidate, GC-012F, and provide a cash runway into the second half of 2026.

Iveric Bio Inc. is now the second biotech to gain U.S. clearance for geographic atrophy – snagging U.S. FDA approval on Aug. 4 for Izervay (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) to treat GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The once-monthly Izervay 2-mg injection is anticipated to be available in the U.S. in two to four weeks, said Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., which recently acquired Iveric in May 2023.