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HitGen’s Vernalis Subsidiary Collaborates with Unison Medicines on Undruggable Bacterial Target
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China’s HitGen Inc. (SHA: 688222) announced a strategic research collaboration between its wholly owned subsidiary, Vernalis Research, and U.S.-based Unison Medicines Inc., targeting an undisclosed bacterial pathogen previously deemed “undruggable.” The partnership leverages Vernalis’ drug discovery expertise to design small-molecule therapies, with Unison funding all R&D activities and sharing downstream…
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Clover Biopharmaceuticals’ COVID-19 Vaccine SCB-2019 Shows Superior Booster Efficacy in Phase III Trial
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China-based Clover Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (HKG: 2197) reported positive Phase III trial results for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, SCB-2019 (CpG 1018/Alum), as a universal booster shot. The study demonstrated superior neutralizing antibody responses against the wild strain and Omicron subvariants BA.1/BA.2 compared to homologous inactivated vaccine boosters. Trial Design and ResultsThe…
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Astellas’ Fezolinetant Hits Menopause Trial Goals in China, Eyes Global Launch
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Japan’s Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO: 4503) announced positive results from a Phase III trial of fezolinetant, its experimental therapy for menopause symptoms, in China. The 52-week MOONLIGHT 3 study met primary endpoints for safety and efficacy in treating severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS), positioning the drug as a potential first-in-class treatment…
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CellOrigin and Qilu Partner on Global CAR-iMAC Cancer Therapy Development
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CellOrigin Biotech (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd, a China-based biotech firm specializing in allogeneic cell therapies, has signed a global collaboration with Qilu Pharmaceutical to develop “off-the-shelf” chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (CAR-iMACs) for cancer immunotherapy. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Strategic Partnership and R&D SynergiesThe partnership combines CellOrigin’s expertise…
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Bio-Heart Plans STAR Board IPO After Hong Kong Debut to Advance Cardiovascular Therapies
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Shanghai Bio-Heart Biological Technology Co., Ltd (HKG: 2185), a leading Chinese innovator in interventional cardiovascular devices, has announced plans for an initial public offering (IPO) on Shanghai’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR) following its HKD 440 million (USD 56 million) Hong Kong debut in November 2023. The move underscores the company’s…
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Fosun Pharma’s Controlling Shareholder to Sell 3% Stake for USD 461 Million
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Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd (SHA: 600196) announced that its controlling shareholder, Shanghai Fosun High Technology (Group) Co., Ltd—a subsidiary of Fosun International—is set to sell a holding of 80 million shares, or a 3% stake, in the firm. The sale is expected to bring in RMB 3.22 billion…
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SciClone Pharmaceuticals Doses First Patient in RRx-001 Phase III Study for SCLC
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China-based SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: SCLN) announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase III regulatory REPLATINUM study in China for its RRx-001, a next-generation small-molecule immunotherapy targeting CD47/SIRPα (signal-regulatory protein alpha). The drug, in-licensed from US firm EpicentRx Inc. in July 2020, is being evaluated as…
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Hotgen Biotech Receives UK Approvals for Monkeypox and COVID-19 Antigen Detection Kits
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Shanghai-based Hotgen Biotech Co., Ltd (SHA: 688068) has announced significant regulatory milestones in the United Kingdom. The company’s monkeypox virus antigen detection kit, utilizing a colloidal gold method, has been approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for marketing. Additionally, its novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) antigen detection…
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Zelgen Biopharm’s Donafenib Shows Promise in Phase III Study for RAIR-DTC
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China-based Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd (SHA: 688266) announced positive results from the Phase III ZGDD3 study for its Category 1 anti-cancer drug donafenib in locally advanced/metastatic radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC). Study Details and ResultsA total of 191 patients were enrolled in the ZGDD3 study, with 128 in the…
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Junshi Biosciences Plans USD 572M Private Placement to Fund Drug R&D and Expansion
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China’s Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (SHA: 688180, HKG: 1877) announced plans to raise up to RMB 3.97 billion (USD 572 million) via private placement, with proceeds allocated to novel drug R&D and construction of its headquarters and R&D facilities. The move underscores the firm’s ambition to accelerate pipeline development…
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CanSino, Livzon Win China EUAs for COVID-19 Booster Vaccines
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China-based vaccine makers CanSino Biologics (HKG: 6185) and Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc. (HKG: 1513) have received emergency use authorizations (EUAs) from Chinese regulators for their respective COVID-19 vaccines as sequential booster shots. The approvals expand the country’s arsenal of heterologous boosters amid rising demand for enhanced protection. CanSino’s Inhaled VaccineCanSino’s…
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AWS Partners with Zhongshan to Launch Smart Manufacturing and Biomedical Digital Center
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Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Zhongshan’s Bureau of Commerce announced a partnership at the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) to establish a smart manufacturing and biomedical digital empowerment center. The initiative, leveraging AWS’s cloud, AI, and IoT technologies, aims to accelerate industrial upgrading in the Guangdong…
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BoomRay Pharmaceuticals Raises USD 43M in Series A for RDC Pipeline Expansion
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China’s BoomRay Pharmaceuticals, a specialist in radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs), reportedly raised nearly RMB 300 million (USD 43.2 million) in a Series A financing round led by Sequoia China. The funding will accelerate clinical development, regulatory filings, and global expansion of its pipeline targeting brain, pancreatic, prostate, and other tumors.…
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Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals’ Jacktinib Wins FDA Approval for Severe Alopecia Areata
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Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd (SHA: 688266) secured U.S. FDA approval to launch a clinical trial of its JAK inhibitor, jacktinib, for severe alopecia areata, marking the second IND clearance for the drug in the U.S. The therapy targets immune-driven inflammation via JAK/STAT pathway inhibition. Drug Profile and MechanismJacktinib, a…
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Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Doses First Patient in JAB-BX102 Phase I/IIa Trial for CD73-Targeted Cancer Therapy
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China’s Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Group Co., Ltd (HKG: 1167) announced the first patient dosed in a Phase I/IIa trial of its CD73 monoclonal antibody (mAb), JAB-BX102, for advanced solid tumors. The study, cleared by Chinese regulators in March 2022, marks the drug’s global clinical debut after U.S. approval in October 2021.…
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Northeast Pharma Licenses MedAbome’s MAb11-22.1 for ADC and CAR-T Development
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China’s Northeast Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHE: 000597) has signed a licensing agreement with U.S.-based MedAbome to develop the latter’s preclinical monoclonal antibody, MAb11-22.1, for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies. The deal follows Northeast’s 2017 in-licensing of a Herceptin biosimilar from MedAbome. Collaboration TermsUnder the agreement,…
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Alphamab Oncology Highlights KN046, KN026 Advances at ESMO 2022
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China’s Alphamab Oncology (HKG: 9966) will present updated clinical data for its bispecific antibody candidates KN046 and KN026 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2022 conference. The programs target multiple cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and HER2-positive gastric cancer, with results showing promising efficacy and safety…
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AstraZeneca’s Farxiga Wins China Approval for Chronic Kidney Disease
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UK pharma giant AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) announced a new approval for Farxiga (dapagliflozin), its sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, in China. The drug is now cleared to reduce risks of kidney function decline, end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and heart failure hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD),…
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Innovent Biologics Doses First Patient in Higher-Dose Mazdutide Obesity Trial
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China’s Innovent Biologics, Inc. (HKG: 1801) announced that the first participant has been dosed in the higher-dose cohort of a Phase II trial for mazdutide (IBI362), a dual agonist targeting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR), in Chinese adults with obesity. The study follows positive results from…
