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Chengdu-based medical device firm Burning Rock Biotech Ltd (NASDAQ: BNR) announced the launch of a ground-breaking interventional validation study focused on the application of its early cancer test, OverC, in detecting various cancer types in asymptomatic patients. The PREVENT (Prospective multi-canceR Early-detection and interVENTional) study will enroll 12,500 individuals to…
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China-based Harbour BioMed (HKG: 2142) announced that its strategic partner NK Celltech, a company focusing on NK cell-based cell therapies, has successfully raised over RMB 100 million (USD 14.9 million) in a Series A financing round. The round was led by HUAGAI Capital, with participation from CAS Venture Capital, Qiandao…
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BeiGene (NASDAQ: BGNE) has released the latest results of the global Phase III RATIONALE 306 study, which evaluated the efficacy of its programmed death – 1 (PD – 1) inhibitor tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who have not previously…
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China-based Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd (SHE: 000963) announced that a clinical trial filing for its biosimilar version of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide), submitted by subsidiaries Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and Chongqing Peg-Bio Biopharma Co., Ltd, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Drug ProfileOriginally developed…
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The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) website indicates that Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd’s Obizur (susoctocog alfa) has been prioritized for review for the on-demand treatment and control of bleeding events in adults with acquired hemophilia A. Drug Profile and MechanismAcquired hemophilia A is an acquired bleeding disorder characterized by reduced…
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Shenzhen-based point-of-care testing (POCT) specialist Corestar Biotechnology Co., Ltd has raised “tens of millions” of renminbi in a Series A financing round led by IDG Capital. The proceeds will be used for research and development (R&D) laboratory construction, new product pipeline expansion, and team expansion. Company BackgroundFounded in 2017, Corestar…
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Great Robotics, a Beijing-based medical robotics company, has reportedly raised close to RMB 100 million (USD 14.9 million) in a pre-Series A financing round. The round was led by INCE Capital, with participation from Orient Jiafu Asset Management. The proceeds will be used for testing and clinical studies of an…
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Visum Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd reportedly raised close to RMB 100 million (USD 14.9 million) in a Series B+ financing round led by Zhejiang Hisoar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHE: 002099). The proceeds will be used to support the research and development (R&D) of high-end preparations and the construction of a GMP…
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China-based Yunnan Jianzhijia Health-Chain Co, Ltd (SHA: 605266) plans to acquire 100% of compatriot firm Hebei Tangren Pharmacy Co., Ltd in a deal valued at RMB 2.07 billion (USD 309 million) in cash. The acquisition will be completed in two installments. Jianzhijia, which provides efficient, differentiated promotion and marketing services…
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Shanghai-based Allist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SHA: 688578) announced that it has received another indication approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for furmonertinib. The third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor is now approved for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR…
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Dakang Medical (DiaCare Medical), a Beijing-based provider of blood purification chain medical services, has reportedly raised RMB 400 million (USD 59.7 million) in a Series E financing round, the largest deal in the segment. The round was led by Jiangxi Ganjiang New District Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd, with…
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Suzhou-based Ascentage Pharma (HKG: 6855) announced that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a first-in-human clinical study of its embryonic ectoderm development (EED) inhibitor APG-5918. The study will assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of the drug in patients with advanced…
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Beijing Luzhu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a leading developer of human vaccines and therapeutic biologics, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with CICC as the sponsor. The Chinese firm previously secured a Series C financing round that valued the company at RMB 4.42…
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China-based Youwe (Zhuhai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a developer of soluble microneedle transdermal drug delivery technology, has reportedly raised close to RMB 100 million (USD 14.9 million) in a Series B financing round. Cenova Ventures was the sole investor. The proceeds will be used for the commercialization of soluble microneedle technology…
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China-based Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd (SHE: 000963) announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved another indication for its SaiYueXin, a biosimilar version of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) autoimmune disease drug Stelara (ustekinumab). The drug is now approved for use in China to treat children and adolescents aged…
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Gritgen Therapeutics, a leading gene therapy drug developer based in Suzhou, has announced the successful completion of a A-round financing round worth several hundred million yuan. The financing was led by Sequoia China, with participation from Sunlight Insurance, Qingsong Capital, and Beijing Life Science Park Venture Fund. Existing shareholders including…
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Pregbio, a Shenzhen-based non-invasive prenatal gene detection company, has reportedly raised an undisclosed amount of money in an angel financing round. The sole contributor to the round was ASB Ventures. The proceeds will be used to promote early screening and diagnosis of preterm labor and pre-eclampsia, non-invasive prenatal screening, and…
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Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), BeiGene’s partner, revealed in its Q3 2022 earnings report that it is scaling back the US development of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor tislelizumab. The firm no longer plans to file a New Drug Application (NDA) in the US for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and has ended…
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Germany-based Bayer (ETR: BAYN) has announced a voluntary recall of a specific lot of its tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor Vitrakvi (larotrectinib) in the US market following the detection of contamination by the Penicillium brevicompactum mold in the oral solution. While no adverse events have been reported, Bayer has advised…
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Novartis disclosed during its Q2 2022 earnings call that the U.S. FDA deemed clinical data for BeiGene’s PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab insufficient to support an approval filing for first-line monotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Development will pivot to second-line combination therapy for NSCLC. FDA FeedbackThe FDA cited inadequate representation…