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Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone has released an updated special drug insurance list, allowing patients in the zone to access medicines not yet market-approved in China. The insurance scheme, first introduced in 2020, was the first government-guided provincial-level supplementary special drug insurance scheme in China. This year’s…
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China-based laser diagnosis and treatment specialist Shenzhen Vivolight Medical Device & Technology Co., Ltd reportedly raised over RMB 100 million (USD 14.2 million) in a Series D1 financing round. The round was led by Huajin Capital and Fosun Health Fund, with participation from Kaihe Capital, Sequoia China, and CASSTAR. The…
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Shanghai-based digital cognitive impairment solution provider Best Covered reportedly raised RMB 100 million (USD 14.2 million) in a Series A+ financing round. The round was led by Cenova Ventures, with additional participation from Long Hill Capital, GSR Ventures, and BioTrack Capital. The proceeds will be used for scientific research investment,…
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US authorities have intervened to block the purchase of US-based Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) Snapdragon Chemistry by China-based CDMO Asymchem Laboratories (Tianjin) Co., Ltd (SHE: 002821). According to a press release from Snapdragon, the deal faced opposition from the US Treasury’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United…
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China-based Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKG: 1672) announced that the clinical study of PD-L1 antibody ASC22 (envafolimab) in combination with chidamide as a functional cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has completed the enrollment of 15 HIV-infected patients. The study achieved this milestone in just two months since the first…
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The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has released the “Technical Guidelines for Clinical Research and Development of Anti-Tumor Antibody Drug Conjugates” and is seeking public feedback for one month. The document aims to provide a framework for the rational design of clinical trials involving antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for anti-tumor…
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US-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) announced significant changes to its global C-suite. Julio Gay-Ger, the current president and general manager of Eli Lilly China, will transition to the role of chief marketing officer and vice president of global marketing for Eli Lilly’s diabetes business. In his new role,…
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Local government policies in China have begun to direct public hospitals to prioritize the procurement of certain medical devices and technologies from domestic producers, where available. According to Nikkei.com, notices to this effect were issued in April in Hubei, Anhui, Shanxi, and Ningxia. This move reportedly follows a national-level internal…
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China-based biotech firm Antengene (HKG: 6996) announced the opening of its new office in Melbourne, Australia. This strategic move is aimed at supporting the company’s expansion in the Asia Pacific region, with the office covering functions including commercial operations, finance, medical affairs, and clinical and business development. Clinical Trials and…
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Great Bay Bio (GBB), a Hong Kong-based biotechnology firm, announced the completion of a USD 15 million pre-Series B financing round. The funding round was led by Tiger Med’s Tiger Jade Capital, with participation from an unnamed “top life science MNC,” AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi Partners…
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China-based Zhonghong Pulin Medical Product Co., Ltd (SHE: 300981) has entered into a partnership with compatriot firm Shanghai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 601607). The five-year agreement is designed to leverage and integrate the respective advantageous resources of both companies to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Financial details of the partnership were…
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China-based Suzhou Jade Biomedical Co., Ltd reportedly raised USD 10 million in a Series B financing round led by VMS Group, with participation from Panacea Venture. The proceeds will be used for the purchase of instruments, reagents, and consumables for the company’s biological GMP testing business. Additionally, the funds will…
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Worg Pharmaceuticals, a Hangzhou-based developer of novel allergic drugs, reportedly raised RMB 400 million (USD 57.3 million) in a Series B financing round. This follows an RMB 200 million (USD 28.65 million) Series A funding round in January last year. The latest round was backed by Junson Capital, Lapam Capital,…
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China-based Luye Life Sciences Group has struck a partnership with the Ministry of Innovation and Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The collaboration, which leverages respective advantageous resources, will lead to the establishment of the Uzbekistan Innovative Vaccine Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The partnership also marks a comprehensive collaboration on…
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Hangzhou Celregen Therapeutics Ltd, a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd (HKG: 2196), has revealed a licensing deal agreement with Japan-based Cellusion Inc., a specialist in regenerative medicines. Under the deal, Celregen has secured development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to Cellusion’s lead regenerative therapy candidate CLS001 – a…
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China-based Transcenta Holding Limited (HKG: 6628) announced that its TST003, a first-in-class, high affinity humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting Gremlin1, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This milestone allows Transcenta to proceed with clinical trials for this novel cancer treatment. Gremlin1…
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Shanghai-based Bide Pharmatech Co., Ltd, a specialist in drug building blocks, is set to make an initial public offering (IPO) of 16 million shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR), raising an estimated RMB 43.44 million (USD 6.2 million). The move marks a significant milestone for the…
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The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has released the 58th batch of reference drugs for generic quality consistency evaluation (GQCE) work. This batch includes a total of 41 new specifications, among which 13 are injectables. The release aims to further standardize the quality of generic drugs in the Chinese market,…
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Alphamab Oncology (HKG: 9966) and 3D Medicines’ envafolimab (KN035) has obtained fast-track status from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) that have progressed after chemotherapy. This designation is expected to accelerate the development…
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Guangdong province has rolled out a free HPV vaccination program this month, aimed at improving immunization rates among young girls. According to the “Work Plan for Free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Vaccination for School-aged Girls in Guangdong Province (2022-2024)” released in November last year, the program will provide free vaccines…