HONG KONG – Chinese biotech companies, long in-licensors of innovative biopharma assets for the region, have started to reverse the flow by out-licensing domestically generated candidates to global players. The changing tide signals China’s innovation in the life sciences is bearing fruit. But the country’s efforts isn’t without complication, shadowed now by tense relations with the U.S. Read More

BEIJING – Canbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. last week won marketing approval in China for its first rare disease drug, the mucopolysaccharidosis II therapy Hunterase (idursulfase beta injection). Read More

PERTH, Australia – Australian public health laboratories are collaborating to sequence the virus genomes of all positive COVID-19 tests in Australia to track the virus using genomics across the country. The Communicable Disease Genomics Network (CDGN) and Illumina Inc. will track COVID-19 by using next-generation genomic sequencing technology. Read More

A new randomized controlled trial (RCT) of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) treatment for moderately ill COVID-19 patients run at 39 Indian hospitals found no association between CCP therapy and reduced mortality or progression to severe disease. Read More

Australia is famous, among other things, for venomous animals. Its plants, it turns out, are just as hostile. Now, researchers at the University of Queensland have isolated “neurotoxic peptides from the venom of the giant Australian stinging tree,” as they titled their paper. While the tree’s venomous effects were no secret – the authors wrote that it is known for its “remarkably persistent and painful stings upon contact,” which can produce pain flares for weeks – the effect had been attributed to small molecules. Read More

HONG KONG – Legend Biotech Corp. head Frank Fangliang Zhang has come under investigation by mainland Chinese law enforcement in relation to suspected violations of Chinese import and export regulations, the company said. Read More

Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: Abound, Alaxia, Amgen, Axon, Betterlife, Biontech, Bristol Myers Squibb, C3.ai, Cebina, Cend, Dr. Reddy’s, Dyadic International, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Emergex, Eyevance, Fosun, Foundation Medicine, Generex, Genexine, Hepion, Hoth, Humanigen, Immunoprecise, Impilo, Janone, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, Junshi, Kiadis, Lonza, Mabion, Melior, Mylan, Nanoviricides, Neurorx, Novartis, Novavax, Octimet, Panolos, Pfizer, Pharmajet, Raziel, Relief, Revive, Samsung Biologics, Santen, Shanghai Fosun, Takeda, Teva, Tianjin Juvestar, Tiziana Life Sciences, Tonix, Transcenta Biomedical (Shanghai), Ufovax, Vaxine, Wigen Biomedicine, Xbiotech, Yufan, Zymeworks. Read More

Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings, including: Humanigen, Xwpharma, Zai Lab. Read More

New hires and promotions in the biopharma industry in Asia-Pacific, including: Brii Biosciences, Sumitomo Dainippon. Read More

Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: 3D Medicines, Aim Immunotech, Algernon, Alphamab Oncology, Aslan, Astellas, Astrazeneca, Atossa, Atyr, Beigene, Clinuvel, Direct Biologics, Eli Lilly, Galera, Kyorin, Leap, Onconova, Opko Health, Rigel, Roche, Tracon. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Allovir, Ampio, Arca, AVM, Celltrion, Eisai, Epimab, Equillium, Harbour Biomed, Hutchison China Meditech, I-Mab, Junshi, Mateon, Morphosys, Sorrento, Takeda. Read More