BEIJING – Suzhou, China-based Innovent Biologics Inc. is known in China as one of the first drugmakers to launch a PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Now, the company is moving to expand its product portfolio and enhance efforts in developing bispecific antibodies and cell therapies in a potential multibillion-dollar deal with pharma giant Roche Holding AG. Read More

PERTH, Australia – CSL Ltd. said its subsidiary, CSL Behring, has agreed to exercise an option to acquire Canadian biotech Vitaeris Inc. for its lead phase III asset for rejection in solid organ kidney transplant patients. Read More

American depositary shares in CAR T-focused Legend Biotech Corp. (NASDAQ:LEGN), offered in a red hot IPO at $23 each, took off Friday, rising 60.9% to close at $37 per share. Other offerings June 5, a buoyant day for U.S. markets after a surprising drop in unemployment, raised $154 million for cellular trafficking specialist Applied Molecular Transport Inc. and $90 million for Calliditas Therapeutics AB, the developer of an oral formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide. Read More

BEIJING – Three-year-old Asia-focused startup Everest Medicines Ltd. closed one of the biggest financing rounds in China’s health care market this year, adding $310 million to its war chest. The firm is aiming to advance its late-stage assets in-licensed from global partners to the China market soon. Read More

BEIJING – After his role as associate director and head of chemistry at Eli Lilly and Co., Brandeis-trained Jingye Zhou founded Eccogene Inc. in Shanghai in 2018 to focus on developing small-molecule drugs for metabolism and immune-related diseases. Read More

HONG KONG – Two Chinese biotech companies, Hutchison China Meditech Ltd. (Chi-Med) and Beigene Ltd., are teaming up to evaluate their therapies as combination treatments for several cancers and in different key markets. Read More

Chinese biotech firm Beigene Ltd. said its second-generation BTK inhibitor, Brukinsa (zanubrutinib), has won approval in China for two indications, entering a market dominated by Imbruvica (ibrutinib, Johnson & Johnson/Abbvie Inc.). The NDA approval came eight months after Brukinsa’s clearance in the U.S. Read More

The biotech industry's rapid response to COVID-19, a pivot of global scope, is driving a broad array of approaches to tackling the infection. On Monday, the first day of BIO's virtual convention, the trade group gathered some of the effort's leading voices to take stock of how those efforts are shaping up. Read More

PERTH, Australia – Aussie biotech CSL Ltd. and the University of Queensland (UQ) have entered a development agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate development, manufacture and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Queensland. Read More

PERTH, Australia – Melbourne, Australia-based Dimerix Ltd. saw its shares gain 66% on the news that its lead candidate, DMX-200, has been chosen to enter the global REMAP-CAP platform trial as a potential treatment  for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Read More

HONG KONG – China’s Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. has struck a deal with Merck KGaA for a clinical trial program in China to investigate the efficacy and safety of Junshi’s anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb), Tuoyi (toripalimab) in combination with Merck’s Erbitux (cetuximab) as a treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Read More

LONDON – The foundation stone of a system to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines was put in place by the global vaccines summit on June 4, with 12 donors pledging $567 million in seed money for an advance market commitment (AMC) program. Read More

Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: 4Bio Ventures, A2A, Abbvie, AGC, Alivamab Discovery, Arbor, Astrazeneca, Avita Medical, Black Cat, Cresco, CSL, Delta 4, East China Normal University, Eleva, Epivax, Exeltis Healthcare, Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research, Harbour Biomed, Healios, Heat Biologics, Ibio, Immunoprecise Antibodies, Integrated, Intravacc, Kyowa Kirin, Laxai Life Sciences, Lupin, Macure, Memo, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Modular, Novavax, Octapharma, Oncolytika, Pharmabcine, Rottapharm, Sorrento, Swift, Takis, Valirx, Vitro Diagnostics. Read More

Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings, including: Apeiron, Appili, Bionomics, Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, Gilead Sciences, Humanigen, Outlook. Read More

The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Council of State Bioscience Associations, FDA, HHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. House, U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, U.S. Senate. Read More

Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: Astellas, Astrazeneca, Bergenbio, Celltrion, CSL Behring, Eli Lilly, Fibrogen, Innovent, Inovio, Junshi, Kiniksa, Neurorx, Novartis, Relief, Sosei, Takeda. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Agenus, Algernon, Arch, Beigene, Cellenkos, Clarity, Elixirgen, FSD, Helsinn, Kiniksa, Lupin, Mylan, Oncolys, Revive, Specialised, Taiho, Trevena. Read More