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Guangzhou Doublle Bioproduct Co., Ltd. has announced receiving Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its E101, a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) product. The approval allows the company to initiate clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Product…
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Hong Kong-based United Laboratories International Holdings Ltd (HKG: 3933) has entered into a licensing agreement with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO). The deal grants Novo Nordisk global development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to United Laboratories’ UBT251, excluding China mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, where United Laboratories retains the…
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Chongqing Zhifei Biological Co., Ltd (SHE: 300122), the distribution partner for US giant Merck’s Gardasil in China, has announced the acquisition of a 51% stake in compatriot firm Chongqing Chenan Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for RMB 593 million (USD 82 million). This strategic move aims to expand Zhifei’s presence in the…
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (SWX: ROG, OTCMKTS: RHHBY) announced a strategic exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with Denmark-based Zealand Pharma (CPH: ZEAL). The partnership aims to develop and commercialize petrelintide, Zealand Pharma’s amylin analog, both as a standalone therapy and in a fixed-dose combination with Roche’s lead incretin asset CT-388.…
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China-based Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals (SHA: 600867) announced that the on-site Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection by the Ministry of Health of Egypt for its Tongboli, a biosimilar version of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 receptor agonist Victoza (liraglutide), is well underway in the country. Product BackgroundTongboli, the Victoza knockoff, received marketing approval…
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China-based Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd (SHE: 000963) announced that its market filing for a biosimilar version of Denmark-based Novo Nordisk A/S’s (NYSE: NVO) Tresiba (insulin degludec) has been accepted for review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The targeted indication is adult type 2 diabetes. Drug ProfileInsulin degludec, a…
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China-based Guangzhou Innogen Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, a biopharma focused on metabolic diseases, announced the global launch of its efsubaglutide alfa, a next-generation ultra-long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Drug ProfileEfsubaglutide alfa, with an average half-life of…
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China-based Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals (SHA: 603087) announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase III clinical study for GZR4, its Category 1 therapeutic biologic product. GZR4 is an investigational ultra-long-acting insulin designed for once-per-week subcutaneous injection to treat diabetes. Drug ProfileGZR4 aims to provide a convenient…
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sanofi-Aventis’ (EPA: SAN) Merilog, a biosimilar of Novo Nordisk’s (NYSE: NVO) NovoLog. Merilog, a rapid-acting insulin, is indicated for the improvement of glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. The approval includes both a 3 milliliter (mL) single-patient-use…
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Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) reported a robust finish to 2024, with Q4 revenues climbing 45% year-on-year (YOY) to reach USD 13.53 billion. The surge was primarily fueled by its GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide). Excluding these incretin-focused drugs, Lilly’s overall portfolio still expanded by 20% YOY. For…
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China-based Guangzhou Innogen Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, a biopharma focused on metabolic diseases, has announced receiving marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its efsubaglutide alfa to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). This approval marks a significant milestone in the development and commercialization of efsubaglutide alfa, positioning…
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China-based Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (SHA: 600276) has announced that its market filing for a long-acting insulin analogue, a Category 1 biologic product, has been accepted for review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This marks a significant milestone for Hengrui as it seeks to bring China’s first…
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China-based Jiangsu Lianhuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 600513) has announced the completion of subject enrollment for the Phase III clinical study of its Category 1 drug LH-1801, in combination with metformin. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LH-1801 in treating type 2 diabetes, building on its…
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Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) has announced the commercial launch of its innovative diabetes treatment, Rybelsus (semaglutide), in China. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it expands its presence in the Chinese market. Rybelsus: A First-in-Class TherapyRybelsus holds the distinction of being the world’s first…
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China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted marketing approval to CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd (HKG: 1093) for its drug prusogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. The approval is for the drug’s use in improving blood sugar control among adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Mechanism of ActionPrusogliptin…
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Partners Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and Valo Health have announced an expanded partnership, aiming to discover and develop novel treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The collaboration leverages Valo’s extensive human dataset and computation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the development of innovative therapies. Initial…
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US pharmaceutical major Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) has announced the official market launch of its drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in China, expanding access to this treatment for patients in the region. Coverage of Two IndicationsThe launch of Mounjaro in China covers two specific indications. The first is for the…
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China’s Shanghai Pharmaceuticals (SPH, HKG: 2607, SHA: 601607) has declared the termination of clinical trials and subsequent development of I001-B (US), I022 (US), and C012 (US). This decision comes after a comprehensive evaluation of the future market value, business collaboration, and development investment required for these projects. I001-B and I022…
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China-based Corxel Pharmaceuticals (CORXEL) has announced a significant licensing agreement with domestic firm Vincentage, securing global development and commercialization rights to CX11 (also known as VCT220), an oral small molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), excluding Greater China. The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed. CX11:…
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China’s Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd (HKG: 3692) has announced a significant global license deal with US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) concerning its investigational oral molecule, HS-10535, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Terms of the Agreement and Financial ImplicationsAccording to the agreement, Merck will secure exclusive…