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China-based Jiangxi Jemincare Group (SHA: 603222) has announced receiving clinical trial approvals for six of its Category 1 chemical drugs in China and the United States, with indications spanning cancer, kidney diseases, and infectious diseases. JMKX003801, approved for study in China for severe infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, has demonstrated…
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CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKG: 2616), a China-based biopharmaceutical company, has announced an agreement with French pharmaceutical company Servier that returns exclusive development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to Tibsovo (ivosidenib) in Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, as well as Singapore. Originally developed by US-based Agios Pharmaceuticals,…
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Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) has announced the discontinuation of its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) tusamitamab ravtansine following disappointing results from a Phase III trial in metastatic non-squamous (NSq) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with high CEACAM5 expression. The trial did not meet its dual primary endpoints, as indicated by an interim…
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CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKG: 2616) has confirmed media reports regarding the dismissal of its sales team for Gavreto (pralsetinib), marking a significant shift in the Chinese company’s commercial strategy for its first product to reach the market. Gavreto, which was licensed to Allist Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd in November 2023, did not…
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Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 1177), a China-based pharmaceutical giant, has announced the completion of patient enrollment for a Phase III clinical trial of anlotinib, marketed under the trade name FOCUS V, in conjunction with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma. The trial, conducted by Jiangsu Chia Tai…
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GenScript Biotech Corporation (HKG: 1548), a China-based Contract Research Organization (CRO), has announced that its subsidiary, Legend Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: LEGN), will update the warning label for its BCMA-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), to account for the potential risk of myeloid neoplasms in patients…
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN), a UK-based pharmaceutical company, is set to initiate a Phase III study for its PD-1xTIGIT bispecific antibody (BsAb) rilvegostomig in combination with chemotherapy for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) following surgical resection. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, global trial aims to assess the efficacy and tolerability of…
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Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd (HKG: 0950) has secured in-licensed rights for socazolimab, a treatment for recurrent-metastatic cervical cancer, according to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) website. This drug marks the first programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) for cervical cancer in China. Socazolimab, originally developed by US-based Sorrento…
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Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276), a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received separate clinical trial approvals from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for two of its drug candidates, SHR0302 and SHR2554. SHR0302 is anticipated to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), while SHR2554 is…
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Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) has licensed a potential first-in-class IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) targeting antibody candidate from cancer immunotherapy developer Compugen (NASDAQ: CGEN), which is currently in the pre-clinical stage. Gilead will assume development responsibilities from Phase II onwards and will pay USD 60 million upfront, with up to USD 788…
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US pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has entered into a partnership with French firm Owkin to develop and commercialize a pre-screening procedure for identifying the microsatellite instability- (MSI) H biomarker in various cancers. The initiative aims to test for MSI-H in endometrial, gastric, small intestinal, and…
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Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) has in-licensed a natural killer (NK) cell engager candidate for solid tumors from France-based Innate Pharma (NASDAQ: IPHA), as per an agreement reached in 2022. Sanofi will pay an initial fee of EUR 15 million (USD 16.4 million) and is committed to potential milestone payments of up…
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Beijing-based Konruns Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 603590) has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct a clinical study for its drug candidate KC1036 in advanced Juventus sarcoma for adolescents aged 12 and above. KC1036, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets AXL, VEGFR2, and FLT3, is…
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China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Ltd (HKG: 0512; CGP) announced that its subsidiaries, Beijing Purevalley Biotechnology Co., Ltd and Chengdu Purevalley Biotechnology Co., Ltd, have entered into a distribution agreement with Australian firm Sirtex Medical Ltd. This agreement centers on the distribution of Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres (Y-90 microsphere) injection, a…
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The European Commission (EC) has granted Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) additional indications for its leading anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), approving its use as a first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) and HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)…
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Hangzhou-based HighField Biopharmaceutical, a leader in immuno-oncology focused on innovative lipid-based therapies, has announced the initiation of dosing for the first patient in a clinical trial of its candidate HFK1. This investigational drug is an immunoliposome encapsulating doxorubicin, aimed at targeting various solid tumors. The trial is being conducted concurrently…
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BGI Genomics Co., Ltd. (SHE: 300676), a leading genomics firm based in China, has announced the approval of its medical device license from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for a novel gene methylation detection kit. The kit employs fluorescence PCR technology to assess the combined methylation status of the…
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According to the China Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), Shanghai-based InventisBio Co., Ltd. (SHA: 688382) is on track to secure priority review status for its KRAS G12C inhibitor, D-1553, aimed at treating locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a confirmed KRAS G12C mutation, particularly in patients…
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US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that its immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for a new indication. The drug is now approved as a first-line treatment for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative…
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Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Astellas (TYO: 4503), and Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) have secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for their combination therapy consisting of Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC). The FDA’s decision is…