-
NMPA Approves Two China-Developed COVID-19 Small-Molecule Therapies
•
The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has issued conditional marketing approvals to two novel, China-discovered COVID-19 small-molecule therapies: SIM0417 from Hainan Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, and VV116 from Shanghai JunTop Biosciences Co., Ltd. JunTop is a joint venture (JV) between Junshi Biosciences and Vigonvita Life Sciences Co., Ltd. SIM0417: Next-Generation…
-
JS InnoPharm’s US Subsidiary Initiates Phase I Trial for AURKA Inhibitor VIC-1911
•
Shanghai-based JS InnoPharm Ltd has announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical study by its US subsidiary VITRAC Therapeutics, LLC for its small molecule aurora A kinase (AURKA) inhibitor VIC-1911. The molecule is being assessed both as a monotherapy and in combination with sotorasib for the treatment of KRAS…
-
InnoCare’s Gunagratinib Shows Promising Data in Cholangiocarcinoma at ASCO-GI 2023
•
Beijing InnoCare Pharma Tech Co. (HKG: 9969), a China-based biotech specializing in cancer and autoimmune diseases, has announced the latest data for its pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor gunagratinib (ICP-192) in cholangiocarcinoma at the ASCO-GI 2023 meeting. The findings highlight the drug’s potential in treating this challenging form of…
-
Exegenesis Bio Gains FDA Approval for Gene Therapy EXG102-031 in Wet AMD
•
Hangzhou-based clinical stage gene therapy firm Exegenesis Bio has announced receiving approval from the US FDA to conduct a Phase I clinical study for its EXG102-031. The study will assess the safety, tolerability, and vision improvement potential of this once-administered gene therapy in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).…
-
Simcere’s Cosela Receives First Prescription in China for CDK4/6 Inhibition
•
China-based Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (HKG: 2096) has announced the issuance of the first prescription for its Cosela (trilaciclib) at the Jilin Cancer Hospital. This milestone marks the official clinical application of the first-in-class CDK4/6 inhibitor in China. Drug Background and DevelopmentTrilaciclib, discovered by US biotech G1 Therapeutics Inc., was in-licensed…
-
Novartis’ Kisqali Receives NMPA Approval for Premenopausal Breast Cancer
•
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NYSE: NVS) has announced receiving marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its Kisqali (ribociclib), a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor. The drug is now approved for use as initial endocrine therapy in premenopausal or perimenopausal female patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive,…
-
Fosun Pharma’s Comirnaty Bivalent Vaccine Approved in Macau for Booster Shots
•
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd (SHA: 600196, HKG: 2196) has announced that its Comirnaty bivalent vaccine has been approved as a normal import vaccine in Macau. The vaccine is authorized for use as a booster shot in individuals aged 12 and above. Partnership and DevelopmentFosun Pharma is partnered with…
-
HuidaGene Receives FDA IND Approval for Ophthalmology Gene Therapy HG004
•
China-based HuidaGene (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd has announced receiving Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the US FDA for its ophthalmology gene therapy HG004. The company plans to initiate a global, multi-center clinical study for the drug, a single-administered, non-adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (non-AAV2) gene replacement therapy, targeting retinopathy associated…
-
Ascletis Receives IND Approval for ASC10 in Monkeypox Treatment
•
China-based Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKG: 1672) has announced receiving Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its ASC10, an oral double prodrug antiviral, to evaluate its potential as a treatment for monkeypox. This approval marks a significant step in expanding the therapeutic applications of…
-
Legend Biotech’s Carvykti Meets Primary Endpoint in CARTITUDE-4 Phase III Study
•
Legend Biotech (NASDAQ: LEGN) has released positive data from the CARTITUDE-4 Phase III study, evaluating Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed and lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard…
-
CSPC’s Octreotide Long-Acting Injection Approved for Acromegaly Clinical Study
•
China-based CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKG: 1093) has announced receiving approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate a clinical study for its Category 2.2 chemical octreotide long-acting injection in acromegaly. This marks a significant step forward in developing more convenient treatment options for patients with this rare…
-
BeiGene’s Brukinsa Approved by FDA for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
•
China-based BeiGene (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKG: 6160; SHA: 688235) has announced that the US FDA has approved its Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). In a separate announcement, BeiGene also noted that the Medicines…
-
CNBG-Virogin’s Omicron-Targeted mRNA Vaccine Approved for Clinical Trials
•
CNBG-Virogin Biotech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd has announced obtaining clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its Omicron variant-targeted mRNA vaccine. This marks a significant milestone in the development of COVID-19 vaccines tailored to emerging variants. Vaccine Development and InnovationThe product, China’s first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine encoding…
-
Hepagene’s FXR Agonist HPG1860 Shows Positive Phase IIa Data in NASH Study
•
China-based liver disease specialist Hepagene Therapeutics (HK) Limited has revealed positive data from the Phase IIa clinical study of its in-house developed FXR agonist HPG1860 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The results highlight the drug’s potential in addressing this metabolic liver disease. Phase IIa RISE Study ResultsThe multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled…
-
BMS’s Opdivo Approved in China for Neoadjuvant Therapy in Urothelial Carcinoma
•
US-based Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS, NYSE: BMY) has secured another new indication approval in China for its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab). The immunotherapy is now approved for use as a neoadjuvant therapy for patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) at high risk of recurrence after radical resection. This marks the…
-
Harbour BioMed Receives FDA Approval for HBM1007 Clinical Study
•
China-based Harbour BioMed (HKG: 2142) has announced receiving approval from the US FDA to initiate a clinical study of its monoclonal antibody (mAb) HBM1007, a fully-human antibody targeting CD73. This marks a significant step forward in the development of innovative therapies targeting this key biomarker. HBM1007: Mechanism and DevelopmentHBM1007 is…
-
Joincare’s Biosimilar Tocilizumab Approved for Marketing in China
•
China-based Joincare Pharmaceutical Industry Group Co., Ltd (SHA: 600380) has announced that its subsidiary Zhuhai Livzon Monoclonal Antibodies Biotechnology Co. Ltd has received marketing approval in China for its biosimilar version of Roche Holding AG’s (OTCMKTS: RHHBY) Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab). This approval marks a significant milestone in expanding treatment options for…
-
CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase II Dosing for CAN103 in Gaucher Disease
•
China-based CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HKG: 1228) has announced the first patient dosing in the Phase II part of the ongoing CAN103 Phase I/II study. The trial is focused on treatment-naïve patients with Gaucher disease (GD) Types I and III in China. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the…
-
CDE Grants Priority Review to Takeda’s Vonicog Alfa, Zhongmei’s Rilonacept, and Zai Lab’s SUL-DUR
•
The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has indicated that Takeda’s Vonicog alfa, Zhongmei Huadong Pharma’s rilonacept, and Zai Lab’s sulbactam/durlobactam (SUL-DUR) are set to obtain priority review statuses. These designations highlight the significance of these therapies in addressing critical medical needs. Vonicog Alfa: Vascular Hemophilia TreatmentVonicog alfa is a recombinant…
-
Immunofoco’s CLDN18.2-Targeted CAR-T Therapy IMC002 Accepted for CDE Review
•
China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has accepted a clinical trial filing for IMC002, an in-house developed CLDN18.2-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy by Suzhou Immunofoco. This marks a significant milestone for the Chinese firm, which aims to develop the drug for treating advanced digestive system tumors with CLDN18.2 expression,…
