Therapeutic targeting of endosomal GTP-binding (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is a novel means of drug delivery that may offer more effective and selective treatment for chronic pain and possibly other conditions, a study by Australian researchers at Monash University in Melbourne has concluded. Read More
In October 2016, the owners of BioWorld – the Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters – sold the business to Onex Corp. and Baring Private Equity Asia. The new company has since emerged as Clarivate Analytics, a name that speaks to accelerating the pace of innovation with the trusted insights and analytics it provides to customers. Read More
SHANGHAI – Hutchison China Meditech Ltd. (Chi-Med), of Shanghai, presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago full phase III data for fruquintinib, an oral VEGF inhibitor, for third-line colorectal cancer (CRC). The firm is now in the process of filing an NDA in China where there is no approved drug for third-line CRC. Chinese patients who have failed two prior chemo treatments are a step closer to a treatment that is less toxic and can add 2.7 months over current standard of care. Read More
TOKYO – With $200 million in new funding, the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund is poised to continue funding early and midstage drug development projects for the next five years, particularly for neglected diseases that disproportionately affect developing markets. Read More
SHANGHAI – Inventisbio Inc., of Shanghai, has emerged from stealth, nabbing $19 million in series B financing from health care venture financiers Orbimed and Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV). Founded in 2015, Inventisbio has a pipeline of four small-molecule preclinical drug candidates for cancer and gout. Read More
Peptidream Inc., of Tokyo, reported that it inked an agreement with Shionogi and Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, for a nonexclusive license of Peptidream's Peptide Discovery Platform System (PDPS). Under the terms, Shionogi will pay Peptidream an undisclosed up-front payment and additional technology access payments, plus Peptidream will be eligible to receive payments based on the achievement of particular predetermined development milestones for any constrained peptides and/or small molecules discovered via the PDPS technology. Read More
Pharmaxis Ltd., of Frenchs Forest, Australia, added Kathleen Metters to its board. She has more than 25 years of experience in the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of serious diseases. Read More
