https://www.bioworld.com/rss en-us New drug approvals, financings and deals were seen across the Asia-Pacific biotech sector this week, with China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) granting clearances to Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s oral orexin receptor 2 agonist oveporexton for narcolepsy, as well as Haisco Pharmaceutical Group’s ciprocopan (HSK-39297) for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732867 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732867-apac-roundup-nmpa-nods-lupins-16m-spinoff-car-t-data-more Globe isolated on white background with focus on Asia and Australia Continuing the year’s strong IPO activity, Scribe Therapeutics Inc. priced an upsized offering at the high end of its price range, offering 8.6 million shares at $15 apiece for gross proceeds of about $129 million. The company, which is developing CRISPR-based therapies targeting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker SCTX, with shares getting a warm welcome, opening at $25 and ending the day at $21.65, up 44.3%. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732864 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732864-crispr-focused-scribe-goes-public-via-129m-ipo Going public ticker After a decade of research, the NIH 4D Nucleome program on July 23 delivered a wealth of new insights into how spatial changes in chromatin structure and DNA methylation regulate gene expression in health and disease. In a collection of eight papers published in Science and Science Advances, researchers describe how they have applied single-cell level multi-omics data and tools and techniques developed in the first part of the 4D Nucleome program to track changes in the noncoding part of the genome that are involved in heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, brain aging, retinal health and immune cell development. Science and Science Advances, researchers describe how they have applied single-cell level multi-omics data and tools and techniques developed in the first part of the 4D Nucleome program to track changes in the noncoding part of the genome that are involved in heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, brain aging, retinal health and immune cell development.]]> http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732973 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732973-4d-nucleome-opens-new-wave-of-gene-regulation-research-discovery Cell nucleus architecture After a decade of research, the NIH 4D Nucleome program on July 23 delivered a wealth of new insights into how spatial changes in chromatin structure and DNA methylation regulate gene expression in health and disease. In a collection of eight papers published in Science and Science Advances, researchers describe how they have applied single-cell level multi-omics data and tools and techniques developed in the first part of the 4D Nucleome program to track changes in the noncoding part of the genome that are involved in heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, brain aging, retinal health and immune cell development. Science and Science Advances, researchers describe how they have applied single-cell level multi-omics data and tools and techniques developed in the first part of the 4D Nucleome program to track changes in the noncoding part of the genome that are involved in heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, brain aging, retinal health and immune cell development.]]> http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732853 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732853-4d-nucleome-opens-new-wave-of-gene-regulation-research-discovery Cell nucleus architecture Scoring high marks on two more phase III obesity trials, this time involving serious type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications, Eli Lilly and Co. has cleared the path for a BLA filing for its triple-G candidate retatrutide, which many expect will eventually surpass the top two marketed drugs in the space. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732852 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732852-lillys-triple-g-retatrutide-best-in-class-as-bla-filing-nears Feet on scale Evogene Ltd. and Eleo Inc. have established a strategic scientific collaboration to discover and develop next-generation oral small-molecule inhibitors targeting the PCSK9 pathway for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732878 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732878-evogene-and-eleo-collaborate-to-discover-pcsk9-pathway-inhibitors Heart with blocked arteries Once again, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Redemplo (plozasiran) is hot on the heels of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Tryngolza (olezarsen). Less than a month after the latter gained U.S. FDA approval for use in severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), Arrowhead reported positive top-line results from its phase III studies in sHTG, with findings described by one analyst as “best-case scenario,” setting the stage for a supplemental NDA filing with the FDA before year-end. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732761 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732761-arrowhead-rises-on-phase-iii-hypertriglyceridemia-readout Artery, blood cells, triglycerides Shanghai Yogar Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has divulged new apelin (APJ) receptor agonists potentially useful for the treatment of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and muscle atrophy. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732818 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732818-shanghai-yogar-therapeutics-synthesizes-new-apelin-receptor-agonists AMT Medical BV reported positive one-year data from a study looking at its ELANA device, a sutureless coronary bypass technology designed to simplify one of the most technically demanding steps in coronary artery bypass grafting, and potentially expand use of the minimally invasive procedures.  device, a sutureless coronary bypass technology designed to simplify one of the most technically demanding steps in coronary artery bypass grafting, and potentially expand use of the minimally invasive procedures.]]> http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732738 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732738-amt-medicals-sutureless-bypass-tech-shown-to-be-safe-and-effective AMT Medical ELANA Heart Bypass system ELANA heart bypass system. Credit: AMT Medical BV Branded Lipfendra, Merck & Co. Inc.’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide, part of the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program, won U.S. approval to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732691 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732691-us-fda-approves-mercks-lipfendra-first-oral-pcsk9-for-ldl-c Lipfendra Credit: Merck & Co. Inc. Two med-tech companies agreed to settlements with the U.S. government to resolve False Claims Act (FCA) allegations that they submitted Medicare claims for medically unnecessary testing and devices. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732535 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732535-labcorp-tactile-systems-resolve-fca-allegations Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal condition characterized by abnormal vascular remodeling from excessive proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Recent evidence has suggested that structural maintenance of chromosomes 4 (SMC4) is upregulated in pulmonary tissue from patients with PAH and may be a potential target for therapy, since it has been tied to modulating pathological cell proliferation. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732679 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732679-smc4-blockade-ameliorates-preclinical-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension Lungs Atrium Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ATR-1072 for the treatment of protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit γ2 (PRKAG2) syndrome. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732647 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732647-atriums-atr-1072-gains-ind-clearance-for-prkag2-syndrome Illustration of heart analysis for DNA and drug impacts Drug Farm Biotechnology Co. Ltd. closed a $55 million series D round to advance its AI-developed alpha-protein kinase 1 (ALPK1) inhibitor, DF-003, in a phase III trial for ROSAH syndrome, a rare genetic disease that can lead to blindness. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732600 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732600-drug-farm-bags-55m-series-d-to-advance-ai-developed-alpk1-drug Blue dollar sign on white background Edwards Lifesciences Corp. and Genesis Medtech Group Ltd. will pay a total of $12 million in penalties as part of a U.S. FTC settlement resolving allegations that they intentionally structured a deal in which Edwards acquired Genesis’ JC Medical to avoid complying with the notification and waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732531 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732531-med-tech-companies-slapped-with-historic-ftc-penalty Wuhan Createrna Science and Technology Co. Ltd. has reported new complement factor D (CFD) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of cardiovascular, immunological, eye, genitourinary, renal, respiratory, neurological disorders and hematological diseases. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732637 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732637-wuhan-createrna-discloses-new-cfd-inhibitors The synergy – or lack of it – between knockdown drugs and stabilizers in treating transthyretin (TTR)-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) became one of the topics for debate in the aftermath of the phase III fizzle with gene silencer Wainua (eplontersen), advanced by Astrazeneca plc and Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732529 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732529-combination-locked-out-in-attr-cm-dead-expert-says Human heart within crosshairs The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced the teams for the THRIVE (Treating Hereditary Rare diseases with In Vivo prEcision genetic medicines) program. With a commitment of up to $160 million over 5 years, THRIVE aims to accelerate solutions for rare genetic pediatric diseases across multiple technological approaches, clinical trial designs and deployment models. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732544 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732544-arpa-h-program-supports-advances-for-rare-genetic-diseases News of the unexpected phase III failure of the gene silencing drug Wainua (eplontersen) in the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy sent Astrazeneca plc’s shares (NYSE:AZN) down $10.88 to close July 9 at $178.40. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732518 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732518-ionis-az-shares-down-on-unexpected-wainua-flop-in-cardiomyopathy Wainua autoinjector Credit: wainua.com Apolin Bio Ltd. and Shanghai Viva Dancheng Entrepreneurship Incubator Management Ltd. have detailed polycyclic compounds acting as apolipoprotein A (ApoA; LPA)/apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) interaction inhibitors that are potentially useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732513 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732513-apolin-bio-and-viva-biotech-present-new-apoa-apob-interaction-inhibitors Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Jiangsu) Ltd. was the third Chinese biotech company to debut in Hong Kong this month, with June IPO proceeds from Alebund, Longbio Pharma Co. Ltd. and Shaanxi Micot Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. totaling about HK$4.7 billion (US$600 million). http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732473 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732473-hk-biotech-listings-gain-traction-in-q2-with-trio-of-june-ipos HKEX on phone, digital stock chart Credit: piter2121 - stock.adobe.com FAM3D is a protein mainly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, but also detectable in vascular endothelial cells. It is known to worsen intestinal inflammation by recruiting neutrophils, but its role in atherosclerosis is not well understood. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732378 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732378-targeting-fam3d-as-a-strategy-against-atherosclerosis Human heart within crosshairs Shanghai Zheye Biotechnology LLC has discovered new phenylpropionic acid derivatives acting as apolipoprotein A (ApoA; LPA)/apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) interaction inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of stroke, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary heart disease and aortic valve stenosis. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732345 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732345-shanghai-zheye-biotechnology-patents-new-apoa-apob-interaction-inhibitors Bayer AG has patented new potassium channel Kir3.4 (GIRK4; KCNJ5) and/or Kir3.1/3.4 (GIRK1/4; KCNJ3/5) blockers potentially useful for the treatment of heart failure, arrhythmia, primary hyperaldosteronism and hypertension. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732342 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732342-bayer-discovers-new-potassium-channel-blockers Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Jiangsu) Ltd. was the third Chinese biotech company to debut in Hong Kong this month, with June IPO proceeds from Alebund, Longbio Pharma Co. Ltd. and Shaanxi Micot Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. totaling about HK$4.7 billion (US$600 million). http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732393 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732393-hk-biotech-listings-gain-traction-in-q2-with-trio-of-june-ipos HKEX on phone, digital stock chart Credit: piter2121 - stock.adobe.com Following an initial rebuff in February 2026, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) is recommending approval of Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Daybu (trofinetide) for treating neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome, after it took another look at the file. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732227 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732227-ema-reverses-its-stance-on-acadias-rett-syndrome-therapy-daybu EU flags at European Commission building Johnson & Johnson this week launched its dual-energy Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform in Europe bringing another option to physicians looking to enhance their electrophysiology procedures. The system combines radiofrequency (RF) and pulsed field ablation in one device to treat atrial fibrillation, entering what is becoming an increasingly crowded market for cardiac ablation technology. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732175 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732175-j-and-j-brings-dual-energy-cardiac-ablation-technology-to-europe Johnson & Johnson’s Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform J&J’s Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform. Credit: Johnson & Johnson Fortvita Biologics Inc. and Innovent Biologics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. have identified new calcitonin receptor (CALCR; CT-R) and amylin receptor dual agonists potentially useful for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH; NASH), overweight, dyslipidemia, cognitive and cardiovascular disorders. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732142 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732142-fortvita-biologics-innovent-biologics-discover-new-calcitonin-and-amylin-receptor-dual-agonists Merck KGaA has entered into a strategic research-stage collaboration with Saturnus Bio, a biotech founded by Versant Ventures, to establish a foundational portfolio in the field of rare genetic cardiomyopathies. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732137 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732137-merck-kgaa-announces-cardio-partnership-with-saturnus-bio Female hands holding heart on cardiogram As expected, and following impressive phase III data released last September, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. won U.S. FDA approval of Tryngolza (olezarsen) for adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia, unlocking a larger indication and one that held both priority review and breakthrough therapy designations. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732162 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732162-ionis-wins-wider-tryngolza-approval-for-hypertriglyceridemia Tryngolza pen and packaging Credit: Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.