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Biosion, a clinical stage biotech company with operations in Delaware, US, and China, has entered into a licensing agreement with US based Acraris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS). The deal grants Acraris exclusive global rights, excluding Greater China, to Biosion’s BSI-045B and BSI-502, further strengthening the two companies’ layout in the…
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China-based TenNor Therapeutics has announced positive results from its Phase III clinical study for rifasutenizol (TNP-2198) in treating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The study successfully met its primary endpoints, showing significant advantages of the rifasutenizol regimen over the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT), which is the current standard of care.…
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US biotechnology company Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) has announced that it has received market approval in China for its drug Tavneos (avacopan). The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved Tavneos for use as adjuvant therapy in adults with severe and active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, specifically granulomatous polyangitis…
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NYSE: NVS) has received acceptance for its clinical trial application for the investigational drug PIT565 from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). PIT565 is a potential “first-in-class” trispecific antibody targeting CD3, CD19, and CD2, which Novartis is developing to treat B-cell malignancies. Preclinical research results…
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NucMito, a pioneering nuclear receptor drug developer headquartered in Xiamen, has entered into a licensing agreement with fellow Chinese firm Xiamen Amoytop Biotech Co., Ltd (SHA: 688278). The agreement, valued at up to RMB 145 million (approximately USD 20.37 million) in upfront and milestone payments, as well as royalties, grants…
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Suzhou-based biotech MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd has announced a partnership with US pharmaceutical giant Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN). The collaboration will see the two companies conduct a global clinical trial combining MediLink’s B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) YL201 with Amgen’s DLL3- and CD3-targeting bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) IMDELLTRA for the…
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Qilu Pharmaceutical, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, has announced that its combination drug QL1706, comprising iparomlimab and tuvonralimab, has received conditional marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. QL1706 (PSB205), originally developed by the U.S. biotech Qilu Puget Sound Biotherapeutic…
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2seventy bio Inc. (NASDAQ: TSVT), a U.S.-based biotechnology company partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS, NYSE: BMY) on the development of the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel; ide-cel), has announced the discontinuation of enrollment in a Phase III clinical trial. The trial, known as KarMMa-9, was investigating…
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HBOW Bio, a precision oncology company supported by Sherpa Healthcare Partners, has secured clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its innovative drug candidate NC527-X. This first-in-class near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) tumor imaging agent is recognized as the world’s first drug to harness low oxygen pathways for…
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Akeso Inc. (HKG: 9926), a biopharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that its first-in-class bispecific antibody, ivonescimab, in combination with lenvatinib and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), has reached a significant milestone in its Phase III clinical trial for unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The drug has demonstrated promising results…
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AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN, LON: AZN) , a leading UK pharmaceutical company, has received approval for its rare disease therapy Strensiq (asfotase alfa) from the Guangdong Medical Products Administration (MPA) bureau. This clearance allows Strensiq to be introduced to medical institutions under the “Hong Kong-Macau Drug and Device Access” policy, a…
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LONDON—AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN, LON: AZN) , a leading UK-based pharmaceutical company, has announced that its rare disease therapy Strensiq (asfotase alfa) has been granted market access by the Guangdong Medical Products Administration (MPA) bureau. This approval is a significant step under the “Hong Kong-Macau Drug and Device Access” policy, which…
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TOKYO—Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO: 4503) has announced that its anti-HER3 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), in partnership with Pfizer, has been granted approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) who have received prior platinum-containing…
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CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Ltd (HKG: 2171), a leading China-based developer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies, has announced the completion of patient enrollment in a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for its investigational CAR-T therapy, CT041. The study aims to evaluate CT041 as a potential treatment for advanced gastric…
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Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503), a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company, has secured market approval in the UK for its first-in-class gastric cancer therapy, Vyloy (zolbetuximab), targeting Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2). According to a press release from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the approval allows Vyloy to be used as a…
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US pharmaceutical giant AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CERE), a biotech company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. AbbVie will pay $45.00 per share for Cerevel, totaling an approximate acquisition value of $8.7 billion. The transaction, initially announced in December 2023,…
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Mabwell (Shanghai) Bioscience Co., Ltd (SHA: 688062), a leading biopharmaceutical company in China, has entered into a licensing agreement with Suzhou Risen Pharmaceutical, securing comprehensive rights for the latter’s osteoarthritis treatment, RP901, and its companion diagnostics in Greater China. This includes rights for research and development, regulatory filing, commercialization, and…
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Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company, has announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to acquire US-based biotechnology firm Jnana Therapeutics Inc. Upon completion of the deal, Jnana will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka, with the transaction valued at $800 million in upfront payment…
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US-based biotechnology company FibroGen Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN), which maintains significant operations in China, is initiating damage control measures following the failure of two late-stage trials for its potential first-in-class anti-connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) fully human monoclonal antibody, pamrevlumab. In response to these setbacks, FibroGen has decided to terminate all…
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Kymera Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a biopharmaceutical company based in the U.S., has announced that Sanofi intends to expand the clinical development program for the auto-immune skin disease drug KT-474 following a preliminary review that showed robust early data. Sanofi’s plan to broaden Phase II trials for the drug, which…
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Medigene AG (ETR: MDG1), a biopharmaceutical company based in Germany, has announced that it has been granted patent protection in China for its T cell receptor (TCR) technology targeting NY-ESO-1 and LAGE 1a. This development pertains to the company’s lead pipeline candidate, MDG1015, which is a first-in-class, third-generation TCR-T therapy.…
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Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ) has announced that its subsidiary Janssen Korea has received approval in South Korea for Talvey (talequetamab), a treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). The drug is indicated for monotherapy in adult patients with relapsed/refractory MM who have received at least three prior therapies, including proteasome…
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Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), a leading pharmaceutical company based in the US, has entered into a strategic partnership with fellow US firm Radionetics Oncology to gain access to Radionetics’ pipeline of innovative small molecule G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) targeted radiopharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly…
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Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), a German pharmaceutical company, has announced the commencement of clinical development for BI 3034701, a potential first-in-class anti-obesity drug. The molecule was originally developed by Denmark-based Gubra A/S (XCSE: GUBRA) and is a long-acting triple-agonist peptide designed to target receptors associated with inducing weight loss, positioning it…
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A number of healthcare companies are seeking to capitalize on the recovering market conditions by filing for initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), a venue that has been gaining traction among life sciences companies for their public listings. According to the HKEX website, recent IPO…
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Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE: JNJ), a leading US-based healthcare company, has announced positive results from the Phase III trial for nipocalimab, a potential first-in-class anti-FcRn (neonatal Fc receptor) antibody, for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The company has achieved its primary endpoint and is preparing for regulatory…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Biologics License Application (BLA) for patritumab deruxtecan, a first-in-class HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo…
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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has initiated a strategic partnership with Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation enterprise, to embark on a collaborative quest for groundbreaking obesity treatments in 2023. The alliance will tap into ProFound Therapeutics’ proprietary technology platform, a Flagship-founded entity, to bolster Pfizer’s research and development…
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SinoMab BioScience Ltd (HKG: 3681), a biotech firm based in Hong Kong, has announced the first patient dosing in a Phase Ib clinical study for SM17, a pioneering drug for atopic dermatitis (AD). The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of SM17, along with preliminary efficacy,…
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Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ), a global healthcare conglomerate, has entered into a definitive agreement with RTW Biotech Opportunities, a U.S. investment fund, for the acquisition of biotechnology firm Yellow Jersey. Yellow Jersey, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Numab, was previously acquired by RTW in 2021. The cash transaction, valued…
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Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO: 4503), a Japanese pharmaceutical company, has resubmitted its first-in-class anti-CLDN18.2 biologic Vyloy (zolbetuximab) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative CLDN18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This resubmission follows an earlier rejection and comes…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has entered into an agreement to acquire UK-based ophthalmology specialist Eyebiotech Limited for an upfront payment of USD 1.3 billion, plus potential milestone payments of up to USD 1.7 billion. The deal is anticipated to be finalized in the third quarter of 2024,…
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Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ), a global healthcare giant, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire global rights to NM26, a first-in-class bispecific antibody (BsAb) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), from Switzerland-based Numab Therapeutics. The transaction, valued at $1.25 billion in cash, is anticipated to conclude…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has executed an exclusive global licensing agreement with Prothena Corporation (NASDAQ: PRTA), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in protein dysregulation, to acquire PRX019, a promising candidate for neurodegenerative diseases. The agreement follows PRX019’s attainment of Investigational New Drug (IND) status in the previous year. Under…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has participated in an oversubscribed Series B extension round for NeoPhore, a UK-based immuno-oncology company. The funds will be utilized by NeoPhore to advance its pre-clinical studies, with the goal of delivering a small-molecule candidate by 2025. The specific amount invested by BMS was…
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Roche (SWX: ROG)’s Genentech, a leading biotechnology company based in Switzerland, has received approval to initiate a clinical study in China for its Category 1 drug vixarelimab. The drug will be evaluated as a potential treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). Vixarelimab is a selective, fully human monoclonal antibody that targets…
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Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has announced a strategic partnership with Aktis Oncology, a US-based developer of anticancer radiopharmaceuticals, to co-develop first-in-class treatments for solid tumors and diagnostic products. Under the terms of the agreement, Aktis is set to receive an upfront payment of USD 60 million, a significant…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), the producer of the leading checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab), has entered into a collaborative agreement with Dragonfly Therapeutics for the combination therapy of Keytruda and Dragonfly’s tri-specific natural killer (NK) cell engager, DF9001. The partnership aims to explore treatment options for advanced solid…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has announced the release of long-term clinical data for Sotyktu (deucravacitinib), the company’s tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The data, which spans a four-year period, indicates that the first-in-class drug has maintained a clinical response rate…
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Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (NYSE: TAK) has entered into an agreement with AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU), a Switzerland-based developer of advanced immunotherapies, to obtain an exclusive global license for the company’s active immunotherapies that target toxic forms of amyloid beta (Abeta). This strategic partnership positions Takeda at the forefront…
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Yantai Dongcheng Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd (SHE: 002675), a leading pharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that it has been granted clinical trial approval by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its innovative drug, 177Lu-LNC1008. This targeted radioactive in vivo therapeutic drug is designed to treat general advanced…
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Wuhan Bio-Raid Biotechnology Co., Ltd, a leading developer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies in China, has announced that it has received clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its proprietary BRD-03. This autologous CD99-targeted CAR-T therapy is classified as a Category 1 biologic therapeutic…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a global healthcare leader, has entered into a strategic collaboration with GV20 Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in antibody therapeutics with operations in both China and the U.S. The partnership aims to combine GV20’s groundbreaking IGSF8-targeted biologic, GV20-0251, with MSD’s best-selling anti-PD-1 therapy,…
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Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276), a leading pharmaceutical company in China, has announced that it has received separate clinical trial approvals from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for two of its drug candidates, SHR-3276 and HRS2398. SHR-3276 is slated for study in patients with general advanced solid…
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GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; NYSE: GSK, LON: GSK), a leading UK pharmaceutical company, last week announced positive results from a Phase III clinical trial for gepotidacin, a first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic, in the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea (GC). The study demonstrated non-inferiority to the standard azithromycin-based treatment, with a microbiological response rate…
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Kintor Pharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 9939), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has announced that its Phase II clinical study for GT20029, a first-in-class proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compound, has met its primary endpoint in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in China. The multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate…
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German pharmaceutical giant Merck (ETR: MRK) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Caris Life Sciences’ research unit, Caris Discovery, to uncover novel oncology targets and develop first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The partnership aims to harness Caris’ precision medicine expertise and Merck’s ADC technology to accelerate the discovery and development…
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NYSE: NVS) has presented compelling real-world data for its innovative small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy, Leqvio (inclisiran), which is used for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients who have not responded well to statins. The data, unveiled last week, demonstrated that the early…
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The European Commission (EC) has granted Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) an indication extension for its erythropoietic agent Reblozyl (luspatercept) as a first-line treatment for transfusion-dependent anemia associated with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in adult patients. Originally indicated for anemia related to beta-thalassemia, Reblozyl is now positioned to address…
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Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (HKG: 1877), a leading biotech company based in China, has received approval from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan to initiate a global multi-center Phase III study. The study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the combination of tifcemalimab (TAB004/JS004) and…
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN), headquartered in the UK, has registered with Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) its first-in-class AKT inhibitor, Truqap (capivasertib), in combination with endocrine therapy Faslodex (fulvestrant). This combination therapy is intended for the treatment of unresectable or recurrent PIK3CA-, AKT1-, or PTEN-altered HR-positive, HER2-negative…
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Regenxbio (NASDAQ: RGNX), the development partner for AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) gene therapy ABBV-RGX-314, has announced results from a Phase I/IIa trial focused on wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). This announcement complements the preliminary results shared earlier in the year. The 2-year data from the trial indicate that a single administration…
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Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO: 4503), a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company, has announced that China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) has accepted for review a supplementary Biologic License Application (sBLA) for its drug Padcev (enfortumab vedotin). The application seeks to expand the use of Padcev in combination with pembrolizumab for the…
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Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276), a leading pharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that it has received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct a clinical study for its Category 1 antibody drug conjugate (ADC), SHR-7631, in patients with advanced solid tumors. While the…
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AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has announced its acquisition of Landos Biopharma (NASDAQ: LABP), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in autoimmune diseases. The deal includes an upfront payment of USD 137.5 million plus a potential clinical milestone payment of USD 75 million, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of…
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This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine) for the treatment of FRα-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer following up to three prior therapies. This approval marks an upgrade from the 2022…
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Denmark-based Novo Nordisk (CPH: NOVO-B) has announced a significant agreement to acquire Germany’s Cardior, a leading expert in RNA biology focused on the prevention, repair, and reversal of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The deal, valued at EUR 1.025 billion, which includes upfront and milestone payments, is anticipated to finalize in the…
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Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276), a leading pharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that it has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate an open, multi-center Phase Ib/II study. The study will assess the drug candidate HRS2398 in combination with HRS-1167 or adebrelimab…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences (NASDAQ: IDYA), a US-based biotechnology company, to clinically develop the combination of MSD’s top-selling anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) with IDEAYA’s potential first-in-class poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) inhibitor IDE161. The collaboration focuses on treating microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high)…
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Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd (SHA: 600196, HKG: 2196), a leading pharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that it has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct a Phase I clinical study for its universal NK cell therapy, GCK-01. This Category 1 innovative therapeutic…
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AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has entered into a strategic partnership with France-based OSE Immunotherapeutics (EPA: OSE) to develop the potential first-in-class immunotherapy OSE-230, which is currently in the pre-clinical stage for the treatment of chronic and severe inflammation. Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will acquire exclusive global rights to…
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Germany’s Bayer (ETR: BAYN) has launched a double-blind, placebo-controlled mid-stage trial for its potential first-in-class anti-alpha2 antiplasmin (anti-α2ap) drug, BAY3018250, aimed at treating symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This advancement comes on the heels of a successful Phase I study. The investigational antibody works by modulating the breakdown of…
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Immune-Onc Therapeutics Inc., based in the U.S., is entering into a collaboration with Roche (SWX: ROG) to conduct a Phase Ib/II clinical study evaluating its LILRB2 (ILT4) monoclonal antibody (mAb) IO-108 in combination with Roche’s PD-L1 mAb atezolizumab and VEGF mAb bevacizumab. This study aims to target first-line localized advanced,…
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Sino-US biotechnology company Phanes Therapeutics Inc. has announced that it has received clinical trial approval from China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) for its first-in-class claudin 18.2/CD47 bispecific antibody (BsAb) PT886, intended for the treatment of advanced solid tumors including gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and pancreatic cancer. PT886, a…
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The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) website has indicated that Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE: JNJ)’s Talvey (talquetamab) and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) are on track to receive priority review statuses. Talquetamab, a bispecific GPRC5D-directed CD3 T-cell engager, is in development for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent/refractory…
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Sino-US biotechnology company Phanes Therapeutics Inc. has announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for its potential first-in-class in-house bispecific antibody (BsAb) PT217 has been accepted for review by China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE). PT217 is designed to directly kill tumor cells through the antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP)…
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AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN), a leading UK pharmaceutical company, announced this week that it has received regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its respiratory drug Airsupra (albuterol + budesonide). The drug is now approved for the treatment or prevention of asthma symptoms and for the…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has converted the 2019 accelerated approval for Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J; NYSE: JNJ) FGFR kinase inhibitor Balversa (erdafitinib) into a full registration. Balversa is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with susceptible FGFR3 mutations in patients who…
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Lee’s Pharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 0950) has entered into a licensing agreement with US-based Windtree Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: WINT) to develop and commercialize multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatments in the Greater China region. The agreement includes the development of istaroxime, a Phase III-ready, first-in-class dual-mechanism SERCA2a activator for acute heart failure…
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China-based Chengdu Chipscreen NewWay Biosciences Co., Ltd has announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I clinical trial for its investigational PD-1/CD40 bispecific antibody (BsAb) candidate, NWY001. The multi-center, non-random, open-label trial is conducted under the leadership of Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, with objectives to…
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Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ), a global healthcare conglomerate, has announced its intention to acquire Ambrx Biopharma (NASDAQ: AMAM), a U.S.-based developer of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The deal is valued at approximately USD 2 billion in equity and carries a net cash requirement of USD 1.9 billion, with…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a rejection for a filing submitted by Astellas (TYO: 4503), a Japanese pharmaceutical company, for its first-in-class anti-CLDN18.2 biologic zolbetuximab. The drug was under consideration for the treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative CLDN18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)…
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Germany-based Merck (NYSE: MRK) has in-licensed the potential first-in-class candidate ompenaclid from U.S. firm Inspirna, aimed at inhibiting the creatine transport channel SLC6A8. The drug is currently undergoing Phase II trials for RAS-mutated advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The agreement also encompasses additional follow-on compounds targeting SLC6A8. In return…
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Hainan Poly Pharm Co., Ltd (SHE: 300630), a Chinese pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received clinical trial approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its novel injectable PLAT001, intended for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer. PLAT001, a groundbreaking nanomedicine,…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has announced the acquisition of RayzeBio (NASDAQ: RYZB), a clinical-stage developer of actinium-based radiopharmaceutical therapeutics (RPT), bolstering its oncology portfolio. BMS will purchase all outstanding shares of RayzeBio for an estimated $4.1 billion, with the transaction anticipated to close in the first half of…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declined to grant full approval for Amgen’s (NASDAQ: AMGN) Lumakras (sotorasib), a first-in-class KRASG12C inhibitor, for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The regulator has requested an additional confirmatory study, which Amgen intends to…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted under priority review a filing from Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) for their jointly developed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) patritumab deruxtecan. The treatment is intended for patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell…
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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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Organon (NYSE: OGN), a specialist in women’s health, has in-licensed migraine treatments Emgality (galcanezumab) and Rayvow (lasmiditan) from U.S. partner Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) for the European market. Under the agreement, Lilly will receive an upfront payment of $50 million, along with milestone payments, pending regulatory approval expected in Q1…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review status to Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) for its potential first-in-class bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) tarlatamab as a second-line treatment for advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The action date for the review is set for June 12, 2024. This decision…
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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…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has presented results from Phase I and Phase I/II trials for combination therapies with golcadomide, a potential first-in-class drug from the company’s CELMoD line of protein degraders, in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The Phase I study indicated that previously untreated patients with aggressive…
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Sichuan Biokin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 688506), a Chinese pharmaceutical company, has announced a landmark licensing and cooperation agreement with US pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY). The agreement focuses on Biokin’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate, BL-B01D1, which targets EGFR and HER3. The deal was conducted specifically between…
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Novartis (NYSE: NVS) has announced an update on the late-stage trial for its CDK4/6 inhibitor Kisqali (ribociclib) in early breast cancer. Data from 78.3% of patients who completed treatment showed a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence, with 30% and 24.5% decreases for stage II and stage III tumors,…
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AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has announced its agreement to acquire Cerevel Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CERE) for approximately $8.7 billion, with the transaction expected to close in mid-2024, pending customary conditions. This acquisition is set to enhance AbbVie’s neuroscience portfolio by incorporating Cerevel’s promising drug candidates, which boast multibillion-dollar sales potential across various…
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Insilico Medicine, a China-based biotech leveraging generative artificial intelligence (AI), has announced the initiation of a clinical study for its potential first-in-class PHD inhibitor, ISM5411, targeting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). ISM5411 is an intestinal-restricted small-molecule inhibitor developed using Insilico’s Pharma.AI platform, featuring a novel molecular framework and a unique binding…
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AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has unveiled data from a Phase 2 trial of its potential first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) telisotuzumab-vedotin, which targets c-Met protein-overexpressing, EGFR-wild-type, advanced/metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial results showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 35% in patients with high c-Met levels and 23%…
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China-based Shanghai Escugen has entered into a partnership with domestic firm Foreseen Biotechnology to develop antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) leveraging Escugen’s linker-payload technology, EZWi Fit, and Foreseen’s first-in-class antibodies and targets. This collaboration aims to create ADCs with enhanced drug efficacy and resistance in various tumor models, offering differentiated clinical…
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Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the purchase of Switzerland-based biotechnology firm T3 Pharmaceuticals this week, in a strategic move to expand its immuno-oncology pipeline. The transaction is valued at up to CHF 450 million (USD 510 million), highlighting Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to advancing cancer treatments. T3 Pharmaceuticals’ Innovative Approach to…
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Japan-based Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd (OTCMKTS: DNPUF) has secured market approval in China for Xenleta (lefamulin acetate), a drug indicated for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. The approval was obtained through Sumitomo’s Suzhou-based subsidiary, which already has Mepem (meropenem), a carbapenem antibiotic, in its Chinese market portfolio, and…
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The Janssen unit of Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ) has filed an indication extension application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its bispecific antibody Rybrevant (amivantamab) in combination with chemotherapy. The treatment is intended for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)…
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UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) announced last week that it has received regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first-in-class AKT inhibitor, Truqap (capivasertib), in combination with fulvestrant. This treatment is indicated for HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic recurrent or refractory breast…
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) and CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) have received conditional approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for their jointly developed therapy, Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel), a treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) and for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT) in…
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Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has made a significant move in the field of oncology by purchasing ORM-6151, a potential first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) from US-based Orum Therapeutics. The acquisition includes approval from the local regulator for ORM-6151 to enter a Phase I study for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)…
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US-based biotechnology company FibroGen Inc., (NASDAQ: FGEN) has reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2023, showcasing a significant year-on-year (YOY) increase in global sales. The company’s revenues rose by 155% to USD 40.1 million, reflecting the success of its anti-anemia drug for chronic kidney disease (CKD), Evrenzo…
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Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) announced this week that it has received breakthrough therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BMS-986278, its potential first-in-class lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) antagonist. This oral treatment for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is now set for expedited development and review,…
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Switzerland-headquartered pharmaceutical giant Roche (SWX: ROG) announced this week an agreement to purchase Telavant Holdings, a biotechnology firm co-owned by UK’s Roivant Sciences (NASDAQ: ROIV) and US-based Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). The acquisition will grant Roche rights to RVT-3101, a potential best-in-class and first-in-class anti-TL1A subcutaneous antibody, in the US and…
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China-based firm InxMed (Nanjing) Co., Ltd has updated two clinical studies for its first-in-class small-molecule FAK inhibitor ifebemtinib (IN10018) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023. The studies evaluated the drug’s efficacy and safety in treating platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer and advanced triple negative breast cancer. Phase…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a strategic collaboration agreement with Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) focused on the development and commercialization of three potential first-in-class deruxtecan-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates. This partnership aims to advance innovative treatments for various types of cancer. ADC Candidates and Development…
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Global pharmaceutical leader Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a strategic partnership with US-based biotechnology firm Phanes Therapeutics to develop a novel combination therapy. The collaboration will see MSD’s anti-PD-1 blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab) paired with Phanes’s first-in-class CD47×claudin 18.2 drug PT886, targeting claudin 18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal…
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AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has announced the acquisition of US-based biotechnology company Mitokinin, exercising an exclusive right obtained in 2021. The acquisition was contingent upon the successful completion of pre-clinical studies on Mitokinin’s lead program, a potential first-in-class PINK1 activator for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Details of the AcquisitionAbbVie…
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Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS; NYSE: BMY) has entered into a definitive merger agreement with US-based oncology specialist Mirati Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRTX) in a transaction valued at USD 4.8 billion, with an additional potential contingent value right (CVR) payment of up to USD 1.0 billion to Mirati stockholders. The companies anticipate completing…
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The Janssen unit of Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ) has entered into a strategic partnership with Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) to develop and commercialize a groundbreaking 9-valent vaccine targeting extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). Currently in late-stage trials, this vaccine aims to prevent invasive E. coli disease (IED) in adults…
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Japan-based Takeda (TYO: 4502) has announced the voluntary global withdrawal of its tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Exkivity (mobocertinib) from the U.S. market. This decision comes after a Phase III confirmatory trial failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint. Exkivity, a first-in-class therapy, had previously received conditional approvals worldwide as a…
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ImmuneOnco Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (HKG: 1541) has announced the first patient dosing in a Phase I clinical study in Australia for its investigational drug, IMM47, a first-in-class CD24-targeted monoclonal antibody (mAb). This marks a significant step in the development of a novel immunotherapy approach for cancer treatment. IMM47’s Mechanism…
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BioTroy Therapeutics, a Shanghai-based developer of cancer immunotherapies, has announced the receipt of Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its innovative anti-tumor drug, BT02. This monoclonal antibody (mAb) targets solid tumors with a novel mechanism, representing a significant step forward in cancer…
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French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) has announced that it has received marketing approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for its first-in-class drug Altuviiio (Fc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein). This new treatment is indicated for controlling the bleeding tendency in patients with hemophilia A, a genetic disorder that…
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German pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced two separate strategic collaborations with UK-based artificial intelligence-driven precision drug design companies BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) and Exscientia (NASDAQ: EXAI). These partnerships aim to discover potential first-in-class and best-in-class small-molecule therapies in the fields of oncology, neurology, and immunology. Terms of Collaboration and…
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche’s subsidiary, Genentech (SWX: ROG), has announced a partnership with Japan’s peptide-based therapeutics and diagnostics specialist, Peptidream (TYO: 4587). The collaboration aims to discover and develop potential first-in-class peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) for the targeted delivery of radioisotopes against specific disease targets. Details of the PartnershipUnder the terms…
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regulatory approval to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; NYSE: GSK), a UK-based pharmaceutical company, for its JAK1/JAK2/ACVR1 inhibitor Ojjaara (momelotinib). The drug is indicated for anemic adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, a blood cancer affecting approximately 25,000 people in the United States. This…
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The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan has accepted for review a filing by UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; NYSE: GSK) for its first-in-class candidate, momelotinib, as a potential treatment for the blood cancer myelofibrosis. The submission is supported by Phase III clinical trial results that show significant improvements…
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has presented interim data from Phase III and extension studies for its potential first-in-class biologic sotatercept, which is being investigated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The late-stage trial indicated that the activin signaling inhibitor led to a reduction in right…