Astellas Pharma Inc. and Vir Biotechnology Inc. have signed a global co-development pact to advance VIR-5500, Vir’s PRO-XTEN dual-masked CD3 T-cell engager targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen for treating prostate cancer. Under the deal terms, San Francisco-based Vir will receive $335 million in up-front and near-term payments, including $240 million in cash, $75 million in equity investment and a $20 million near-term milestone. Vir is also eligible to receive up to $1.37 billion in development, regulatory and sales-based milestones plus royalties on ex-U.S. sales. Read More
Innovacell Inc. launched a ¥14.16 billion (US$91.2 million) stock sale on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Feb. 24, ending a near two-year lull of biotech listings in Japan while signaling a dynamic year ahead for cell-based therapeutics. Read More
Gilead Sciences is stepping deeper into synthetic lethality, licensing a clinic-ready MAT2A (methionine adenosyltransferase 2a) inhibitor from Suzhou, China-based Genhouse Bio Co. Ltd. in a deal worth up to $1.53 billion. Read More
Harbour Biomed is spinning out newco Solstice Oncology and is outlicensing its CTLA-4 antibody, porustobart (HBM-4003), to the newco in a cash and equity deal worth more than $1.2 billion. Read More
CSL Ltd. is out-licensing its interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody, clazakizumab, to Eli Lilly and Co. in a deal that brings CSL $100 million in up-front fees. A CSL spokesperson told BioWorld the deal includes undisclosed milestone payments and sales-based royalties. CSL will retain rights to develop and commercialize clazakizumab for prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage kidney disease, while Lilly will explore the MAb in all other indications. Read More
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG is selling off its India-listed business unit, Novartis India Ltd. (NIL), to a private equity-led consortium for about ₹14.46 billion (US$159.3 million) as it seeks to grow with “pure-play innovation.” Read More
Japan is backing conditional approvals of Amchepry (raguneprocel, Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd./Racthera Co. Ltd.) and Reheart (Cuorips Inc.), positioning them to become the world’s first induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (iPSC) therapies to receive regulatory clearance. Read More
Ascletis Pharma Inc. raised HK$843.53 million (US107.93 million) in a placement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to advance its lead program, ASC-30, a small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that can be dosed once monthly subcutaneously and once daily orally for treating obesity. Read More
The U.S. FDA accepted, with priority review, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s NDA submission for oveporexton (TAK-681), bringing the oral orexin receptor 2 agonist closer to clearance in narcolepsy type 1.
Continuing to build on the successful launch of Rezdiffra (resmetirom), Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc. is adding six preclinical-stage siRNA therapies to its metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) pipeline in a deal with Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary, Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, that could be worth $4.4 billion if all milestones are achieved. Read More
After closing an oversubscribed $85 million series B round, Quantx Biosciences Inc. is gearing up to begin clinical trials of its two lead immunology compounds, a STAT6 oral small-molecule inhibitor and an IL-17 oral small-molecule inhibitor. Read More
A world-first pediatric mRNA cancer vaccine trial is launching in Australia that could open new possibilities for children with aggressive brain tumors. Read More
A project that started as a bioreactor to assist astronauts in deep space to keep medications safe in a microgravity environment could help pharma companies model how drugs behave in the human body. Read More
Clinical updates for biopharma and med tech in Asia-Pacific, including data readouts and publications: Eccogene, Hengrui, Kailera, Lumosa, Merrylife, Mesoblast, Takeda, Yoltech. Read More
Biopharma and med-tech happenings in Asia-Pacific, including deals and partnerships, and other news in brief: Alkem, Aska, Axsome, Bostongene, Celltrion, Centessa, Cumulus Neuroscience, CSL, Daiichi Sankyo Formycon, HCW Biologics, I-sens, Lifescan, Lotus, Memo, Nxera, Shionogi, Teijin, WY. Read More
Regulatory snapshots for biopharma and med tech in Asia-Pacific, including global submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astrazeneca, Bio-Thera Solutions, Biogen, Daiichi Sankyo, Deciphera, Eisai, Ono, Peijia Medical, Racthera, Stada Arzneimittel, Sumitomo, Takeda, Telix. Read More
.webp?t=1770931681 "Interleukin 17 (IL-17)")
