BRISBANE, Australia – Australia is considered one of the first movers in the regenerative medicine (RM) space, with more than 70 institutes and companies working in the sector across the country. But to capitalize on its technical capabilities, it will need to be strategic if it is to reach its potential to be a major player in Asia Pacific. Read More
HONG KONG – Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. has joined forces with Japan’s Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to develop and commercialize Rigel’s small molecule inhibitor, Tavalisse (fostamatinib), in Japan, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and South Korea for all potential indications. Read More
HONG KONG – Taiwanese drugmaker Tairx Inc. partnered with its U.S. peer, Biohealth Innovation Inc. (BHI), to set up a joint venture (JV) in the U.S. with the aim of developing what could be the first drug targeting the Nodal protein in cancer. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking industry comments on a proposal to introduce a new framework for companion diagnostics. Read More
Sanofi SA’s Genzyme Corp. has agreed to pay Denali Therapeutics Inc. $125 million to kickstart development of multiple small-molecule inhibitors of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), a signaling protein that regulates inflammation and cell death in a variety of diseases. The candidates could potentially benefit people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis. Should all succeed, Denali could earn nearly $1.1 billion in milestone payments from Sanofi. Read More
LONDON – Themis Bioscience GmbH has announced positive phase II results for its vaccine against Chikungunya virus, as it moves to complete an IPO later this week to raise up to €55 million (US$62.6 million) to fund the launch of a pivotal phase III trial. Read More
Mapi Pharma Ltd., of Ness Ziona, Israel, completed an equity investment of $10 million by Zhejiang Jingxin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Xinchang, China. Jingxin is also a current shareholder of Mapi, following an initial $10 million investment in 2016. The funds raised will support Mapi’s future development and enable the expansion of the company pipeline, officials said. Read More
Aslan Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd., of Singapore, appointed Robert E. Hoffman an independent non-executive director of its board. Hoffman is chief financial officer and senior vice president, finance of Heron Therapeutics Inc. Read More
