China-based Wuhan YZY Biopharma Co., Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company focused on targeted cancer drugs and drug immunotherapies, has made an initial public offering (IPO) filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Product Pipeline and R&D Focus
YZY Bio, focused on the research and development (R&D) and industrialization of bispecific antibodies (BsAb), boasts a product pipeline covering tumors, ophthalmology, COVID-19, and geriatric drugs, among others. Key products in the clinical stages include EpCAM/CD3 BsAb M701 (for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion and ascites), PD-L1/TGF-β BsAb Y101D (for treatment of pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other solid tumors), CD38/CD3-targeted BsAb Y150 (for recurrent refractory multiple myeloma), COVID-19 vaccine Y2019, and HER2/CD3 BsAb M802 (for treatment of HER2 positive solid tumors). Meanwhile, VEGF/TGF-β BsAb Y332 (for solid tumors), VEGF/ANG2 BsAb Y400 (for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetes macular edema, and other fundus neovascular diseases), and Y229, Y224, and Y180 of undisclosed targets are at pre-clinical stages.
R&D Expenditure
YZY Bio spent RMB 112.9 million (USD 16.18 million) and RMB 82.4 million (USD 11.8 million) on research and development (R&D) in 2021 and the first half of 2022 respectively.
Partnerships and Deals
YZY Bio struck a partnership with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in July 2020 to develop Y2019, a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prepared from the homodimer of the coronavirus spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD). The company went on to ink a USD 220 million deal with compatriot firm China Medical System Holdings (CMS; HKG: 0867), taking all global rights to the latter’s Y400.Fineline Info & Tech
