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Enhertu Confirmed as New Standard of Care for Breast Cancer in Phase III Study
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AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN) and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) released the latest data supporting the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as a new standard of care for breast cancer. An update from the DESTINY-Breast03 Phase III study assessing Enhertu head-to-head against Roche’s Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine, TDM-1) in patients with…
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Shaanxi Panlong Pharma Partners with Porton Pharma Solutions for Drug Development
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China-based Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd (SHE: 002864) announced a technology commission (development) agreement with compatriot firm Chongqing Porton Pharma Solutions, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that will complete technical development, raw material research, process research, quality research, pharmacodynamics and toxicology research, clinical study, production, and regulatory…
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Akeso’s Ivonescimab Secures Record-Breaking Out-License Deal with Summit Therapeutics
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A new bar was set for the most valuable out-license deal struck by a China-based company, as Akeso Inc., (HKG: 9926) handed US firm Summit Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: SMMT) exclusive development and commercialization rights to the bispecific antibody (BsAb) ivonescimab. The deal covers the territories of the United States, Canada,…
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Qihui Biopharmaceuticals Raises Series A Funding for Microbubbles Technology
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Beijing Qihui Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd reportedly raised “tens of millions” of renminbi in a Series A financing round led by Wedo Capital, with contributions from Qingdao Conson Financial Holdings. Proceeds will go towards phospholipid-coated microbubbles technology platform construction, phospholipid-coated microbubbles ultrasound contrast pipeline development, and industrialization. Company Background and TechnologyFounded…
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Westgene Biopharma Secures RMB 150M Series A Financing for mRNA Drug Development
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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…
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Huihe Healthcare Secures Hundreds of Millions in Series C1 and C2 Financing
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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…
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Chaomu Technology Raises Series A+ Funding for Eye Disease Treatments
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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…
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MaxHealth Biotechnology Completes Series B+ Financing Round
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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…
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MicuRx Pharmaceuticals Gains Clinical Trial Approvals for MRX-4 in Europe
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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.…
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F-Star Therapeutics’ Takeover by Sino Biopharmaceutical Delayed Again
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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…
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ST Phi Therapeutics Partners with Azenta Life Sciences to Advance Cell Therapy
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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…
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Beijing Wantai’s Nasal Spray COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Emergency Use in China
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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…
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Everlife Biomed Raises Pre-Series A+ Funding for Immune Exemption Platform
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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.…
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MicroPort MedBot’s Orthopedic Surgery Robot Receives CE Certification
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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…
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Junshi Biosciences Files for EMA Approval of Tuoyi for Nasopharyngeal and Esophageal Cancers
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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…
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Akeso Biopharma Plans IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market
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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…
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Tonghua Dongbao Licenses Biosimilar Victoza to Kexing for Emerging Markets
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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…
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WestVac Biopharma’s Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Emergency Use in China
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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…
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Qilu Pharmaceutical’s QL1604 Plus Chemotherapy Shows Promise in Phase II Study
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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…
