A nearly $2 billion global development and commercialization deal with Abbvie Inc. and a $418 million private placement have bolstered I-Mab Biopharma Co. Ltd.’s position globally. I-Mab framed the deal as being the largest out-licensing and global partnership transaction ever executed by a China-based biotech. Abbvie and I-Mab plan to develop and commercialize the anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody lemzoparlimab for treating multiple cancers globally, with the exception of China. Lemzoparlimab, also called TJC-4, is Shanghai-based I-Mab’s discovery and its lead cancer therapy. The company will get an up-front $180 million by licensing the highly differentiated antibody to Abbvie, along with a $20 million milestone payment based on phase I results. Read More
DUBLIN – Spybiotech Ltd. has secured a first vaccine deal for its proprietary Spytag/Spycatcher protein conjugation technology. The Serum Institute of India Pvt. Co. Ltd. (SIIPL) is employing the technology in a COVID-19 virus-like-particle (VLP)-based vaccine, which recently entered a phase I/II trial in Australia. An initial data readout is expected in October or November. Read More
LONDON – Results from two non-randomized phase I/II trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V that recently received conditional regulatory approval show both a frozen and a freeze-dried formulation of the two-shot vaccine had a good safety profile and induced antibody responses in all 76 participants within 21 days. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Australia’s biopharma sector fared better than the country at large at the end of the financial year that ended June 30, as the country saw GDP fall 7% in the final quarter, the largest drop since 1959. Australia’s trading relationship with China helped the country sidestep the global financial recession of 2008, but the recent divide between the U.S. and China is also putting a wedge between Australia and China relations. Read More
HONG KONG – Xuanzhu (Shijiazhuang) Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Beijing-based Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd.’s innovative drug R&D platform, has secured ¥800 million (US$117.2 million) in series A funding from the State Development and Investment Corp. (SDIC). CMG-SDIC Capital Co. Ltd. (CMG-SDIC) invested the entire ¥800 million, giving SDIC an 18.6% equity interest in the platform, a company spokesperson told BioWorld. Read More
An Australian study led by University of Melbourne scientists has identified a previously unknown role for the hepatokine, sparc-related modular calcium-binding protein 1 (SMOC1), in suppressing hepatic glucose production. Read More
Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: AB Science, Aegis Life, Albany Molecular Research, Amgen, Apogee, Arcturus, Astellas, Astrazeneca, Binex, City of Hope, Curevac, Decode Genetics, Elix, Elixirgen, Enesi, Entos, Harbour Biomed, HDT Bio, Körber, Medicinova, Nanoviricides, Neuclone, Oxford Biomedica, Parnell, Pharmabcine, Recce, Redhill, Relation, Twist, Walvax. Read More
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: Amarin, CDC, COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel, Dr. Reddy’s, FDA, Hikma, NIH. Read More
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: Aerpio, Algernon, Ampio, Astrazeneca, Biophytis, Bio-Thera Solutions, Cartesian, Clear Creek, Glaxosmithkline, Hutchison China Meditech, Innovent Biologics, Lattice Biologics, Mesoblast, Novavax, Quantum Leap Healthcare, Regeneron, SAB, Sanofi, Sanofi, Transcenta. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Arch Biopartners, Cytodyn, Dompé, Inmune, Innovent, Mesoblast, Nippon Shinyaku. Read More
