Sanbio Group, of Tokyo, and Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, said they have executed an agreement with Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions LLC, Hitachi Chemical's U.S. subsidiary that engages in contract manufacturing and development of regenerative medicine products, to manufacture Sanbio's SB-623 regenerative medicine candidate for central nervous system disorders. Read More
SHANGHAI - XW Laboratories Inc.'s lead candidate, a small-molecule drug for narcolepsy, has begun dosing in healthy patients in Australia. Based in Wuhan and Taipei, XW Labs decided to head to Australia for phase I for a variety of reasons, even though moving to first-in-human trials in China has become more viable after CFDA reforms. Read More
HONG KONG – Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is partnering with two European institutions to establish a life sciences and engineering R&D platform to spearhead applied research. Read More
TOKYO – Japan's new accelerated regulatory framework for regenerative medicines has made the time right for U.S. cell therapy specialist Athersys Inc. and its Tokyo-based partner, Healios K.K., "to run a little bit faster," Athersys CEO Gil Van Bokkelen told BioWorld Asia during the 15th BIO Asia International Conference. Jumpstarting the race, Healios is making a $21.1 million equity investment in Athersys and is expected to soon license Multistem, Athersys' allogeneic stem cell product, for multiple indications in Japan. Read More
HONG KONG –LG Chem Ltd. recently received marketing approval for Eucept, its etanercept biosimilar, from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Based on Amgen Inc. and Pfizer Inc.'s blockbuster biologic, Enbrel, the approval for Eucept is significant for LG Chem, marking the first monoclonal antibody it has developed. Read More
TOKYO - Following more than a decade of mostly steady progress on Japan's drug regulation and business development fronts, dangers to well-compensated therapeutic innovation are creeping ever-forward in the important Asian market, industry representatives warned. Read More
LONDON – Quoted technology investor Arix Bioscience plc closed its capital raise at £87 million (US$121 million) after investors took up 14.2 million of the 20 million shares available in the open offer announced on Feb. 28. Read More
