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AstraZeneca Secures Shareholder Approval for $1 Billion Acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies
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The proposed acquisition of China-based Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. (Nasdaq: GRCL) by UK pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) has received approval from Gracell’s shareholders during an extraordinary general meeting held on February 19, 2024. An overwhelming 99.9% of shareholders voted in favor of AstraZeneca’s $1 billion acquisition, with potential total…
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AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso Wins Expanded FDA Approval for EGFR-mutated NSCLC
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UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) has received a new indication approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lung cancer therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib). The fresh indication allows for the use of Tagrisso in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor…
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AstraZeneca Reports 6% Revenue Growth in 2023, Driven by Oncology and Diabetes Drug Sales
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN), the UK-based multinational, reported its financial results for 2023 this week, revealing a 6% year-on-year increase in annual global revenues, reaching USD 45.8 billion at constant exchange rates. Oncology revenue surged by 21%, while cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism (CVRM) sales rose 18%. Respiratory and immunology (R&I)…
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AstraZeneca Announces $300 Million Investment in Next-Gen Cell Therapies Manufacturing in the U.S.
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN), headquartered in the UK, has announced a significant investment of $300 million to establish a next-generation cell therapies manufacturing facility in the United States. This new site is set to enhance support for global clinical trials and facilitate local product launches. This strategic move follows AstraZeneca’s…
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AstraZeneca’s Enhertu Receives Priority Review for Expanded HER2-positive Solid Tumor Indication
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UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) has announced that an indication extension filing for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan), submitted in partnership with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been granted priority review. The treatment is now under consideration for unresectable or metastatic…
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AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Meets Primary Endpoint in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Trial
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UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) announced the successful completion of the primary endpoint in a Phase III trial for its anti-PD-L1 drug Imfinzi (durvalumab). The trial investigated the combination of Imfinzi with bevacizumab, originally developed by Roche (SWX: ROG) as Avastin, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for embolization-eligible hepatocellular…
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Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Secures NMPA Nod for Generic Lynparza Equivalent
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Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd (HKG: 6990), a Chinese pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received marketing approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its generic version of AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN)’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib). This marks the second approval for a Lynparza generic in China,…
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USPTO Invalidates Key Seagen-Held Patent in ADC Conjugation Dispute with Daiichi Sankyo
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In a surprising turn of events in the ongoing intellectual property dispute, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has invalidated a 2020 patent for conjugation compounds used in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which was held by Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) subsidiary Seagen and contested by Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568). The…
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AstraZeneca China Announces Leadership Changes and New Biopharmaceutical Unit
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AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN)’s China unit is set to undergo significant organizational changes, including the establishment of a new business department and three C-suite appointments, as reported by local media. Chen Kangwei, currently the General Manager of AstraZeneca’s China oncology division, will relocate to Singapore for family reasons, taking on…
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Cytokinetics Attracts Big Pharma Interest Amid Aficamten’s Phase III Success
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Cytokinetics (NASDAQ: CYTK), a specialist in cardiovascular diseases, is reportedly attracting interest from multiple Big Pharma companies keen on its promising pipeline in cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases. Sources indicate that Novartis (NYSE: NVS) was initially leading the charge against competitors AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE:…
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AstraZeneca Secures Exclusive Rights to Omniose’s Enzyme Platform for Bacterial Vaccine Development
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) has secured an exclusive licensing agreement with biotechnology firm Omniose for up to three years, gaining access to Omniose’s enzyme-based bioconjugation platform. This platform will be utilized for the development of vaccines targeting bacterial pathogens, including those that are multidrug-resistant. Omniose’s proprietary enzyme technology enables the…
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AstraZeneca and Sanofi’s RSV Prevention Drug Beyfortus Approved by China’s NMPA
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AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) and Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY), co-development partners in the pharmaceutical industry, have announced that they have received marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for their drug Beyfortus (nirsevimab). The antibody is now approved for use in preventing lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory…
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Allorion Therapeutics Strikes Deal with AstraZeneca for EGFR L858R Inhibitor Development and Commercialization
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Allorion Therapeutics, a China-based biopharmaceutical company, has announced an exclusive option and global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) to develop and commercialize a novel allosteric inhibitor targeting the L858R mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The drug is intended for the treatment of advanced EGFR mutant…
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AstraZeneca Secures FDA Approval for Self-Administered hATTR-PN Therapy Wainua
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AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN), headquartered in the UK, announced last week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regulatory approval for its ligand-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide (LICA) Wainua (eplontersen) as a treatment for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN/ATTRv-PN) in adults. Developed in collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS),…
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AstraZeneca to Acquire China’s Gracell Biotechnologies in $1.2 Billion Deal
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Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) has announced its intention to fully acquire Gracell Biotechnologies Inc., (NASDAQ: GRCL), a China-based developer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies. This marks the first major merger and acquisition (M&A) deal by a foreign company targeting one of China’s newest generation biotechs.…
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AstraZeneca Advances to Phase III with PD-1xTIGIT BsAb for Biliary Tract Cancer
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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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Gilead Acquires Pre-Clinical IL-18BP Targeting Antibody Candidate from Compugen in $848 Million Deal
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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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Sanofi Expands Oncology Portfolio with NK Cell Engager In-License from Innate Pharma
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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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GSK’s CCO Calls China a Hotbed for Innovative Molecules and Licensing Deals
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In an interview with the Financial Times, Luke Miels, Chief Commercial Officer of UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; NYSE: GSK), highlighted China as a key source of innovative molecules for licensing agreements. Miels attributes this trend to China’s robust chemistry capabilities and the willingness of local companies to out-license their rights: “You…
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AstraZeneca Acquires Icosavax to Boost Infectious Disease Pipeline with VLP Vaccine Technology
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UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) has announced the acquisition of US vaccines specialist Icosavax (NASDAQ: ICVX), including its protein virus-like particle (VLP) platform. AstraZeneca will pay approximately USD 800 million upfront for all outstanding shares, plus about USD 300 million in milestone payments. The acquisition is set to…
