Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH has agreed to pay Covant Therapeutics Inc. $10 million for exclusive rights to the latter’s ADAR1-targeting immuno-oncology program. Under the terms of the exclusive research collaboration and worldwide licensing agreement, newly unveiled drug discovery company Covant will carry out the preclinical work in creating an ADAR1 small-molecule inhibitor, with Boehringer offering its scientific expertise to help advance the program into the clinic. Read More

Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. and Rxilient Biotech Pte Ltd. are forming a joint venture (JV) to develop and commercialize Junshi’s PD-1 inhibitor, toripalimab, in nine Southeast Asian nations, including Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. Read More

Biorchestra Co. Ltd. reached an exclusive research, option and licensing contract with a U.S.-based company to use its targeting technology platform to develop nucleic acid therapies to treat neurological disorders in a deal valued up to $861 million. Read More

During the first round of discussion at its two-day hearing on a World Trade Organization proposal to expand the intellectual property (IP) waiver from COVID-19 vaccines to diagnostics and therapies, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) got an earful from both sides of the debate. Read More

More than a decade ago, three scientists were part of a team at G1 Therapeutics Inc. that led to the now-approved CDK4/6 inhibitor Cosela (trilaciclib). The same work also led to findings showing CDK2 as a promising target for cancers that developed resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition. Read More

U.S. lawmakers have been busy writing to government agencies demanding answers and explanations on a range of issues, including drug shortages, gain-of-function research and thickets of duplicative patents that extend patent protection well beyond 20 years for some prescription drugs. Read More

U.S. FDA commissioner Robert Califf went to Capitol Hill ostensibly to answer questions about the agency’s budget request for fiscal 2024, but the conversation quickly focused on issues such as baby formula and food supply security. Read More

New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry, including: Aadi, Abeona, Acelyrin, Altimmune, Avacta, Axial, Beyond Air, Bioduro-Sundia, Bryn, Codagenix, Cytonus, Foundery Innovations, Genmab, Hanall, Immuneering, Kala, Lucy, Mannkind, Maxcyte, Oncoverity, Respirerx, Switch, Terns. Read More

Biopharmas raising money in public or private financings, including: Biomea, Modus, Polypid, Vakona, Zyus. Read More

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Agenus, Allarity, Ananda, Anaptysbio, Anebulo, Biomea, Cardiff Oncology, Cognition, Direct, Enterobiotix, Grey Wolf, GSK, Inmed, Intra-Cellular, Kintor, Lantern, Merck & Co., Monopar, Newron, Plus, Prilenia, Revive, Revolo, Truebinding, Vaccitech, Viking, Vivoryon,  Zealand. Read More

Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: GSK, Janssen, Pfizer, Satsuma. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: ARS, BMS, CSL, Ionctura, Maat, Thermosome, Tiziana. Read More