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The China unit of US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK) is reportedly streamlining its diabetes business through redundancies, according to local media outlet Yicai. This move is a response to the anticipated impact of the inclusion of its sitagliptin and other drugs in China’s volume-based…
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China-based biotechnology company Zai Lab Ltd (NASDAQ: ZLAB; HKG: 9688) has announced a strategic collaboration agreement with global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). The partnership grants Pfizer’s affiliated companies the exclusive rights to commercialize Xacduro (durlobactam, sulbactam) in mainland China. This collaboration, set to be in effect through November 2028,…
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China’s National Medical Products Administration has issued marketing approval for Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) oral drug Welireg (belzutifan) as a therapy for von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastoma, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) that do not require immediate surgical intervention.…
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US-Irish medical device company Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) has announced its financial results for the second quarter (Q2) of fiscal year 2025, which concluded on October 25, 2024. The company reported a total revenue of USD 8.403 billion for the period, marking a 5.0% increase on an organic basis. Cardiovascular Portfolio…
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The billion-dollar, multi-program partnership between US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and bioplatform innovation company Flagship Pioneering, initiated in July 2023, has expanded with two new additions. Ampersand Biomedicines and Montai Therapeutics, both Flagship-founded biotechs, have entered into agreements to identify targeted molecules aimed at treating obesity and non-small cell…
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Chengdu-based Easton Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 688513) has announced that it has received separate marketing approvals from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its generic versions of Incyte Corporation’s Jakavi(ruxolitinib) and Missionpharma’s Urocit-K(potassium citrate), marking a significant milestone for the company. Approval of Generic JakaviJakavi, a JAK inhibitor, is…
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Shenzhen-based Innorna Co., Ltd, a leading platform company specializing in mRNA technology and LNP (lipid nanoparticle) delivery technology, has announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational mRNA drug, IN015. The designation is for the treatment of progressive…
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US-based Kura Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: KURA) has entered into a licensing deal with Japan-headquartered Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TYO: 4151), granting Kyowa Kirin exclusive commercialization rights to Kura’s menin inhibitor ziftomenib outside of the United States. Kura retains the corresponding rights within the US. Financial Terms and MilestonesAccording to the…
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Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276) has announced that it has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to commence a clinical study for its investigational drug HRS-6208 as a monotherapy for solid tumors. HRS-6208: A Selective Small Molecule InhibitorThe drug, a selective small molecule inhibitor with…
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China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd (HKG: 3320) has announced a significant internal restructuring within its corporate structure. The company’s sub-subsidiary, China Resources Kunming Shenghuo Pharmaceutical CO., Ltd., also known as CR Sanjiu (SHE: 000999), is poised to sell its 51% stake in Shenghuo to another subsidiary of CR Pharma,…
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China-based InxMed (Nanjing) Co., Ltd has announced that the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) to its innovative small-molecule ifebemtinib (IN10018). The designation is for the use of ifebemtinib, a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, in combination with…
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Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis (NYSE: NVS) has announced the acquisition of US-based Kate Therapeutics, Inc., a pre-clinical biotech firm specializing in adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for muscle and heart diseases, for a substantial USD 1.1 billion. This strategic move allows Novartis to gain access to Kate’s pre-clinical gene therapy…
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China-based Hua Medicine (HKG: 2552) has announced the termination of its co-promotion agreement with German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN) regarding HuaTangNing (dorzagliatin tablets, HMS5552), effective January 1, 2025. The agreement, which began in August 2020, focused on the promotion and distribution of the drug in China. Dorzagliatin’s Impact…
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Shanghai-based United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. has announced the installation of an ultra-wide-bore AI-empowered uMR OMEGA at XRANM’s Breast Health & Imaging Center in New Mexico, United States. This cutting-edge installation marks a significant advancement in patient care and comfort in the field of medical imaging. The uMR OMEGA: Combining…
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China-based Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 1177) has announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its combination therapy of anlotinib and penpulimab in first-line advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Phase III Study Data Supports NDA FilingThe filing is supported by data from…
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China’s Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd (HKG: 0460) has announced an exclusive licensing agreement between its subsidiary Huisheng Pharm and MEIYOUNG. The deal pertains to Huisheng’s biosimilar version of Denmark-based Novo Nordisk’s (NYSE: NVO) weight loss drug semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) for the treatment of overweight or obesity in China. Terms of…
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The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) website has indicated that China-based Innovent Biologics, Inc. (HKG: 1801) is set to obtain breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) for its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) IBI354, which targets HER2, for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Phase I/II Clinical Study ResultsThe Phase I/II clinical study…
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China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has announced the inclusion of China Resources Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd’s (SHA: 600062) hydroxocobalamine and Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) Genzyme’s fitusiran in its patient-centered rare disease drug development pilot program, known as the Care Plan. Hydroxocobalamine for Metabolic Disorders in Children with MMAHydroxocobalamine, also referred…
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Apeiron Therapeutics, a biomarker-driven cancer therapy developer with operations in Shanghai, China, and San Francisco, US, has announced the enrollment of the first patient in the Phase Ia/B study for its investigational drug GTA182. The dosage escalation study aims to assess the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the small molecule…
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German pharmaceutical major Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) has entered into a partnership with China-based Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd (HKG: 1099), granting the latter the rights to promote Boehringer Ingelheim’s Sifrol (pramipexole) and Pradaxa (dabigatran) in China effective from January 1, 2025. Boehringer Ingelheim will retain ownership and manufacturing responsibilities for both…