•
Westgene Biopharma, an mRNA drug developer based in Chengdu, reportedly raised RMB 150 million (USD 21.49 million) in a Series A financing round, led by Chengdu Wenjiang Emerging Industry Venture Capital Fund Partnership Limited, Tigermed Consulting, Yingke PE, Huaxin Asset Management, and Sichuan Mansaisi Pharma. Company Background and PipelineFounded in…
•
Shanghai-based Huihe Healthcare, an interventional medical device maker for heart diseases, reportedly raised “hundreds of millions” of renminbi in Series C1 and C2 financing rounds. Guotai Junan Innovation Investment led the former while Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center Equity Investment Fund led the latter. The funding rounds included contributions…
•
China-based eye disease treatment technology company Chaomu Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd reportedly raised close to RMB 100 million (USD 14.3 million) in a Series A+ financing round led by InnoStar Capital. Mingheng Industrial Investment and Zhongzhi Zhonghe Technology Consulting Center also took part in the funding, proceeds of which will…
•
The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced that it has been decided to delay the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) on-site negotiations process for this year, citing COVID-19 disruptions and ongoing workload related to preparing for the negotiations. When a new time slot is decided, the negotiating groups will be…
•
Chengdu-based vaccine developer MaxHealth Biotechnology LLC announced the completion of a Series B+ financing round at RMB 200 million (USD 28.64 million), led by GF Qianhe Investment. Other investors included existing investors China Life Private Equity Investment, and Wuxi Xinshang Investment, alongside new investors LongRiver Investments, Sealand Innovation, and Guangdong…
•
Sino-US firm MicuRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced receiving clinical trial approvals in France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and Estonia for its novel anti-microbial agent MRX-4 combined with contezolid (MRX-I) as a sequential treatment for diabetic foot infection. Drug Overview and DevelopmentBoth drugs are in-house developed new-generation oxazolidinone antibiotics.…
•
UK-based F-Star Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: FSTX) revealed that there has been yet another delay to its proposed takeover by Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 1177) subsidiary invoX Pharma. The proposed USD 161 million acquisition of F-Star by Sino Bio has attracted the attention of the US Committee on Foreign Investment to…
•
Hangzhou-based cell therapy specialist ST Phi Therapeutics struck a partnership with US firm Azenta Life Sciences (NASDAQ: AZTA) to bolster the development of industrial cell pharmaceutical enterprises. No financial details were disclosed. Company Background and CapabilitiesFounded in 2018, ST Phi Therapeutics boasts its 3,600-square-meter GMP-compliant research and development center and…
•
China-based Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd (SHA: 603392) announced the inclusion of its nasal spray influenza virus vector SARS-CoV-2 vaccine co-developed by Xiamen University and Hong Kong University, in the emergency use program in China. Vaccine Development and MechanismThe vaccine, produced by inoculating Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells…
•
Beijing-based Everlife Biomed reportedly raised “tens of millions” of renminbi in a pre-Series A+ financing round led by Redhill Capital. Other investors included Ruisheng Equity Investment and Yuanhe Capital. Proceeds will go toward safety validation for its core pipelines, process development and clinical filings, manufacturing plant expansion, and talent recruitment.…
•
The first Integrated Bladder Cancer Center (IBCC) in Hainan province was inaugurated in Hainan General Hospital at the Hainan Provincial Urology Annual Meeting. A patient-centered facility, the IBCC is designed to improve inpatient experiences as well as medical service efficiency through a full-course management model. IBCC Initiatives and ServicesIBCC will…
•
United Family Healthcare (UFH), a private comprehensive medical institution based in Beijing, announced an agreement with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) of New York to participate in the latter’s orthopedic knowledge network. The two will carry out all-round and in-depth collaborations in the orthopedics field, specifically with the aim…
•
Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd (HKG: 2252) announced receiving a CE certification in Europe for its in-house developed orthopedic surgery robot Honghu, the first and only domestically-developed surgical robot approved in the region. The Sky Walker knee joint navigation and positioning system was previously approved for marketing in China…
•
China-based Junshi Biosciences (HKG: 1877, SHA: 688180) announced that a market approval filing has been made for its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor Tuoyi (toripalimab) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The biotech is seeking approval for the checkpoint inhibitor in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for locally recurrent…
•
China-based antibody developer Akeso Biopharma (HKG: 9926) announced that its board of directors has decided to make an initial public offering (IPO) to the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR). No formal filing has been made at this stage. Company Background and PlatformFounded in 2012, Akeso Bio boasts an…
•
China-based Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals (SHA: 600867) announced a licensing agreement with compatriot firm Kexing Pharmaceutical (SHA: 688136), granting the latter exclusive commercialization rights to its biosimilar version of Novo Nordisk’s Victoza (liraglutide) in 17 emerging markets (EMs). Victoza: Background and ApprovalVictoza, a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, was first approved…
•
Chengdu-based WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd announced the inclusion of its recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) in the emergency use program in China. It is the first recombinant protein novel coronavirus vaccine produced by the insect cell technology platform approved for emergency use in China. Vaccine Efficacy and TechnologyThe data shows…
•
China-based Qilu Pharmaceutical announced that the results of the Phase II study assessing its QL1604 plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) cervical cancer were released on December 4, 2022, in an oral presentation (Proffered Paper, 179O) at the European Society for Medical Oncology…
•
China Health Group Ltd (HKG: 0673) announced the signing of a framework agreement with compatriot firm Wuhan Mingcheng Wanda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, seeking to carry out close collaboration on the comprehensive distribution of medical and big health products. The two sides are working on specific transaction terms, and an official…