The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio-industry Investment Fund (GIBF) has raised more than half of its proposed ¥2 billion (US$313 million) round. “The second fund, GIBF2, will focus on Israeli and European biotechnology companies, which are developing innovative drugs and are in phase II to III clinical trials,” Avner Lushi, the CEO and co-founder of the GIBF, told BioWorld. The Chinese RMB fund is managed by The Guangzhou Elim Biotech Industry Venture Capital Management Company, which is controlled by a group of prominent Israeli professionals. Read More
Micurx Pharmaceuticals Inc. has won marketing approval from China's NMPA for its lead antibacterial, contezolid, for treating adults with complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI), marking the first NDA for the Shanghai drugmaker. Set to be marketed as Youxitai in China, Micurx discovered the new-generation oral oxazolidinone antibiotic, developing it over 12 years. It’s designed to treat multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. Read More
Sinovac Biotech Ltd.'s inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, Coronavac, has been approved by Chinese regulators for emergency use in children aged between 3 and 17, the company’s CEO Yin Weidong told Chinese state media on June 4. Sinovac briefly unveiled phase I/II data in the age group back in April. Chinese state media, China Central Television, said it confirmed the news with an expert from China’s State Council, though an official announcement has yet to be made. Sinovac did not immediately respond to BioWorld’s query to confirm the news. Read More
Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. has partnered with Amgen Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize KHK-4083, Kyowa Kirin’s phase III-ready anti-OX40 fully human monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of atopic dermatitis. Kyowa Kirin will receive a $400 million up front, while milestone payments could add an additional $850 million. Significant royalty payments on future global sales could sweeten the blockbuster deal. Read More
Although 2020 is the highest money-making year on record for the biopharma industry, a direct comparison of the first five months indicates that the amount raised so far in 2021 is 22% ahead of last year, while the number of financings climbed 26%. Read More
LONDON – Iksuda Therapeutics Ltd. sealed its transition from technology licensing company to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development specialist, closing a $47 million series A financing to move the lead program, IKS-03, into the clinic. Read More
Scohia Pharma Inc. has secured an agreement with Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd., enabling the former to tap the greater China market for SCO-094, its GLP-1R and GIPR dual agonist. Read More
Data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, including: Antengene, Beigene, Coherus, Daiichi Sankyo, Hutchison China Meditech, Immutep, Innocare, Innovent Biologics, Junshi, Lyvgen, Origincell, Yingli. Read More
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: 4D, AB Science, Advaccine, Biogen, Bio-Thera Solutions, Brickell, Bridge, Celltrion Healthcare, Curevac, Hightide, Innovation, Kaken, Neuren, Qbiotics, Transcenta, Valneva. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Akebia, Biontech, Celltrion Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Iaso, Innovent Biologics, Johnson & Johnson, Lannett Co., Micurx, Moderna, Neuren, Neurorx, Otsuka, Pfizer, Regeneron, Respirent, Visen. Read More
