HONG KONG – Kolon Tissuegene Inc., of Rockville, Md., has been ordered by the U.S. FDA to halt the phase III trial of its osteoarthritis cell and gene therapy, Invossa-K, as cancerous cell lines might have been used making the product. Read More
PERTH, Australia – As Australia gets ready for its national election on May 18, the life sciences industry is putting pressure on both political parties to reform the country's research and development tax incentive (RDTI). Read More
SHANGHAI – When investors started pouring capital into Chinese biotechs like Hua Medicine Ltd., Innovent Biologics Inc. or Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., it was reasonable to wonder what exits they were planning. For a long time, China's major stock exchanges only allowed revenue-generating firms to list, making Nasdaq often the best bet, if not an ideal solution for Chinese biotechs. Read More
SHANGHAI – Despite a year in which China's venture investors raised a highest-ever $42.8 billion to invest in life sciences companies, deploying a record sum globally, superlatives about the nation's supersized investment activity can wear thin. Inviting a closer look, Chinabio Group founder and CEO Greg Scott enlisted a panel of key VCs to examine the unfolding dynamics during the Chinabio Partnering Forum. Read More
SHANGHAI – Comfort given isn't always comfort received, especially in the midst of volatility. But if attendees of the Chinabio Partnering Forum were open to it, they may have found a soothing message regarding the oft-disdained Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.: "CFIUS is not as scary as you may think," said Joseph Benkert, a senior advisor in Morrison & Foerster's National Security practice. Read More
SHANGHAI – Biotech entrepreneurs in China pursuing innovative drugs often straddle two, if not three, worlds. They have a deep knowledge of the scientific, regulatory and commercial landscape of China as well as the U.S. And, crucially, they have the ability to envision what the China market of the future will look like. Read More
Novartis AG is buying from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. the dry eye therapy Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) for a $3.4 billion up-front payment, with up to $1.9 billion more if milestones are met, and the Basel, Switzerland-based firm is bringing aboard about 400 employees – mostly based in the U.S. and Canada – associated with the drug, which was approved by the FDA in the summer of 2016. Read More
Eisai Co. Ltd. and Allm Inc., both of Tokyo, are collaborating to develop digital health solutions using Allm's ICT systems for medical treatment and care. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Read More
