Makers of drugs and devices are justifiably concerned about intellectual property theft by mainland China, but it has come to light that Beijing has extended its espionage tentacles into institutions handling research grants provided by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Read More
HONG KONG – Shanghai Miracogen Inc., a Chinese startup focused on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) against cancer, introduced technologies from Dutch firm Synaffix BV to co-develop a potential best-in-class ADC product. Under the licensing agreement, valued up to $125 million, Miracogen will obtain nonexclusive rights to Synaffix's Glycoconnect and Hydraspace ADC technologies for use on its next clinical candidate. Read More
LONDON – Cell therapy specialist Reneuron Group plc has sealed a Chinese commercialization and marketing deal, agreeing to an exclusive license for both its CTX treatment for disability caused by stroke and human retinal progenitor cells (hRPC) for treating retinitis pigmentosa, with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial Development Co. Ltd. Read More
HONG KONG – A newly set up Japanese biotech is continuing the development of a potential first-in-class drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with genetic mutations. The Kyoto-based firm, Alphanavi Pharma Co. Ltd., is a carve-out business venture from Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. Read More
HONG KONG – Commercial-stage biotech company Beigene Ltd. and clinical-stage company Bioatla LLC agreed to co-develop and bring to the market BA-3071, an investigational conditionally active biologic (CAB) CTLA4 antibody, as a monotherapy and in combination with Beigene's investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, tislelizumab, to treat cancer. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has updated its requirements for risk management plans to be submitted with applications for new drugs and biologics. Read More
Hitgen Ltd., of Chengdu, China, said it forged a license agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, to develop a class of drugs for an undisclosed target nominated by Kaken. The small-molecule leads were identified by Hitgen's screening technology platform. Read More