Shionogi & Co. Ltd. has in-licensed Japan rights to Grunenthal GmbH’s intra-articular injectable, resiniferatoxin, for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Currently in phase III trials, RTX is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 agonist, which can reversibly desensitize TRPV1-expressing nociceptors. This mechanism may result in long-lasting pain relief. Read More
The U.S. FDA has approved Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. and Astrazeneca plc’s Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan) as the first HER2-directed therapy for patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. Read More
Innovent Biologics Inc. has formed a partnership with Sanofi SA to jointly develop and commercialize two of Sanofi’s oncology candidates in combination with sintilimab in China, namely SAR-408701 (tusamitamab ravtansine) and SAR-444245. Read More
It’s an august August for Hutchmed Ltd. as it reported positive business results and a number of trial developments, including results from its pivotal global phase III FRESCO-2 trial evaluating the investigational use of fruquintinib in patients with advanced, refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, which met its primary endpoint of overall survival. Read More
Sironax Ltd. has raised $200 million in a series B financing round to support the development of its receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) inhibitors. The latest financing has brought the capital raised by the Beijing and Shanghai-based company to more than $300 million to date. Read More
Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has raised $120 million in a series B financing to support development of its cell therapy pipeline and technology platform, as well as the construction of a manufacturing plant. The round was jointly led by Qiming Venture Partners and Quan Capital Management LLC. Read More
Structure Therapeutics Inc. raised $33 million in a financing round to speed up clinical trials of its lead assets targeting chronic diseases and to improve its technology platform. Previously known as Shouti Inc., the company also has rebranded itself as Structure to “reflect its foundation in structural biology and computational design.” Read More
Shares of Poseida Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:PSTX) closed Aug. 3 at $4.51, up $2.08, or 85%, as a result of the collaboration and licensing deal with Roche Holding AG that brings $110 million up front as well as the same amount in near-term milestone payments described by CEO Mark Gergen as “highly achievable,” and the arrangement could be worth as much as $6 billion if goals farther down the road are met. Read More
Researchers are closer to better diagnosing and treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after discovering new genetic signatures of the disease by reprogramming stem cells to generate high-resolution disease models. Read More
Following the readout of a phase II trial evaluating its COVID-19 oral antiviral Pentarlandir (SNB-01), Taiwan’s Syneurx International Corp. said it expects to launch a phase III test of the candidate in the next few months. Read More
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Akebia, Amgen, Antengene, Axcella Health, Biogen, Bio-Thera, Dizal, Eisai, H. Lundbeck, Helixmith, Hutchmed, Immutep, Innocare, Innovent, Kazia, Kintor, Kyowa Kirin, Laekna, Merck, Novavax, Otsuka, Sciwind, Sorrento, ST, Structure, Syneurx, Tevogen, United, Verrica. Read More
Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: 3Sbio, Ampio, Cosmo, F-star, Genkore, Greenlight, Invox, Propanc, Sino. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific: Ascletis, Biontech, Eccogene, Immunabs, JCR, Jiangsu Recbio Technology, Lynk, Neurocrine, Olix, Panbela, Pfizer, Sinovac, Sosei, Takeda, Veru, Zenas. Read More
