Wuxi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. is providing an exclusive license to GSK plc for a preclinical bispecific T-cell engaging antibody along with the option of three additional bi- and multispecific TCE antibodies developed by Wuxi. In exchange, Wuxi will receive an up-front payment of $40 million and up to $1.46 billion in additional payments for research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones across the four TCE antibodies. Wuxi Biologics, of Shanghai, is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales. Read More
Baili Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has raised ¥990.47 million (US$146 million) on the Shanghai STAR Market. Its shares opened Jan. 6 at ¥28.75 apiece, surging over 30% its first trading day, and closing at ¥38.40 on Jan.9. Read More
Clinical trials in China are growing up in much the same way the R&D enterprise in China has grown up. They are evolving and becoming more sophisticated, reflecting the maturation of the R&D environment around them. Read More
Hightide Therapeutics Inc. closed a $107 million series C round that will advance multiple global development programs for lead candidate HTD-1801, including a phase III trial in type 2 diabetes. Read More
In the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization is monitoring two omicron subvariants, BA.5.2 and BF.7, causing a surge of COVID-19 cases in China. It also is keeping abreast of rising XBB.1.5 cases and declining BQ.1 cases in Europe and the U.S., where hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks. Global cases in the last month are trending below the same timepoints in 2020 and 2021, and deaths are significantly down, suggesting a move toward an endemic stage. Read More
Raynovent Biotech Co. Ltd. has raised ¥370 million (US$54 million) in a series C round to further develop candidates in the field of respiratory and metabolic diseases. Read More
China’s NMPA has approved Merck & Co. Inc.’s COVID-19 treatment molnupiravir for emergency use to combat the increasing number of cases in the country. Read More
After receiving approval in Japan for its orally administered COVID-19 antiviral, 3CL protease inhibitor Xocova (ensitrelvir/S-217622) in late November, Shionogi & Co. Ltd. is gearing up for approvals in South Korea and China. Read More
As expected, the U.S. FDA gave its go-ahead to lecanemab, an amyloid-beta binder for mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD from Biogen Inc. and Eisai Co. Ltd, which have assigned to the compound the brand name Leqembi. Read More
Hadasit Medical Research Services and Development Ltd. and BIRAD – Research & Development Company Ltd. have inked a development deal with Immix Biopharma Inc. for tissue specific therapeutics based on their jointly developed anti-B-cell maturation antigen CAR T cells targeting plasma cell technology. Read More
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Aribio, Curevac, Hutchmed, Immutep, JS Innopharm, Medincell, Onquality, Redhill, Takeda, Valneva, Visen. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific: American Cryostem, Cleave, Daiichi Sankyo, Innovent Biologics, Legend, Revive, Transcenta. Read More
