Guangzhou-based Zhiyi Biotechnology has entered into a strategic partnership with Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. (HKG: 2696), a fellow Chinese firm. The collaboration aims to develop innovative drug products and technology platforms, with a particular focus on the advancement of engineered bacterial drugs and new functional strains. The joint efforts will target areas such as combination therapies involving live biological drugs and immunotherapy antibodies, as well as applications in oncology and autoimmune diseases. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Zhiyi Biotech, with a broad product pipeline encompassing the digestive system, oncology, and autoimmune diseases, includes SK08, which is in Phase III for diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D), SK10 in Phase I for chemotherapy-related diarrhea, and SK08 approved for study in combination with PD-1/L1 inhibitors for advanced solid tumors in China. Henlius, on the other hand, has commercialized five drugs in China and one product internationally, actively promoting combination therapies that include its self-developed PD-1 inhibitor serplulimab.- Fineline.com
