China
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Roche Forks Over $70M for Brain-Penetrating Cancer Drug Candidate
Roche is acquiring global rights to a Zion Pharma Limited drug candidate with potential applications treating breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain. The small molecule, currently in Phase 1 testing, is designed to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
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Eisai Strikes Cancer Alliance to Line Up Potential Challenger to AstraZeneca Drug
Eisai gains an option to license a Bliss Biopharmaceutical drug that targets HER2, a cancer protein that has become a hot target for addressing several types of solid tumors. BlissBio could receive up to $2 billion in milestones and other payments.
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Payer’s Place: Dawn Maroney
Dawn Maroney, President, Markets of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, to discuss how they are using technology to provide better service and care to consumers.
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BioNTech Buys Into Hot Area of Cancer R&D, Paying $170M for 2 Drug Assets
BioNTech’s alliance with DualityBio gives it two antibody drug conjugate (ADC) candidates, the most advanced of which is in mid-stage clinical development for solid tumors. It addresses the same target as a potential blockbuster AstraZeneca drug.
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Takeda Pharma Pays $400M for Global Rights to Colorectal Cancer Drug
The Hutchmed drug, fruquintinib, is already approved in China for colorectal cancer. Takeda Pharmaceutical gets global rights to the small molecule, which has started a rolling submission with the FDA and is being readied for regulatory submissions in Europe and Japan.
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FDA delay means BeiGene, Novartis must wait longer for cancer drug decision
The FDA has deferred a regulatory decision on an esophageal cancer drug from partners BeiGene and Novartis, citing the need to complete inspections of the China-based facilities where the drug is made. The agency said Covid-19 travel restrictions have prevented it from conducting those inspections.
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Novartis, BeiGene ink another deal; plan for tests of checkpoint cancer drug combos
Novartis is partnering with BeiGene on the development of a drug that addresses TIGIT, a hot cancer immunotherapy target. The Swiss pharma giant is committing $300 million up front, and up to $700 million more upon exercising its option on BeiGene’s antibody drug.
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Artificial Intelligence, BioPharma
ShouTi secures $100M to hit biologic and peptide targets with small molecules
ShouTi Pharmaceuticals, a startup that brings computational techniques to drug discovery, has raised $100 million in Series B financing. The clinical-stage biotech designs small molecules intended to do the work of biologic and peptide drugs.
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Anji Pharma adds $70M for clinical trials, expansion of ‘hub and spoke’ biz model
Cross-border biotech Anji Pharma closed $70 million in Series B funding to advance a drug pipeline that includes metabolic and cancer drugs. The biotech’s business model of finding promising drugs and forming subsidiaries to develop them is similar to approaches taken by Roivant Sciences and BridgeBio Pharma, among others.
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Seagen veteran-led ProfoundBio gets $55M to bring cancer drugs to the clinic
ProfoundBio is developing a type of targeted cancer therapy called antibody drug conjugates. As the biotech looks ahead to clinical trials, it has raised more than $55 million in Series A funding.
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Applying Remote Patient Monitoring to Surgery Prep and Recovery, Oncology and Women’s Health
Join us to learn about the latest trends in remote monitoring and how to extend its benefits beyond chronic conditions to more patients – all while using fewer staff resources.
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After a $3B exit, a biopharma veteran unveils a new company and a global focus
Led by former Viela Bio CEO Bing Yao, ArriVent Biopharma secures rights to drugs from emerging biotech hubs, then develops them for Western markets. The biotech’s first asset is a cancer drug licensed from Shanghai-based Allist Pharmaceuticals.
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Clover Biopharma adds $230M as Covid-19 vaccine heads to pivotal test
The protein-based Covid-19 vaccine from Clover Biopharmaceuticals has distribution and storage advantages compared to messenger RNA vaccines. If the vaccine succeeds in a Phase 2/3 test, China-based Clover will distribute it globally via COVAX.
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Online healthcare community DXY raises $500M
The Tencent-backed company, which offers a community for clinicians in China and consumer-facing information, raised $500 million in funding.
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China’s Junshi hits immuno-oncology milestone with breakthrough designation from FDA
The designation, for the PD-1 inhibitor toripalimab in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, makes the Shanghai-based company the latest of several Chinese biotech firms to make headway in the U.S. market.
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Sinopharm launches Phase III trial of inactivated-virus vaccine in Abu Dhabi
The Beijing company said it selected the United Arab Emirates because of its ethnic diversity, which will enable it to determine the feasibility of taking its program global. It claims that its study is the first Phase III inactivated vaccine trial, but another Chinese firm has also launched one in Brazil.
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China’s Sinovac becomes latest to announce Covid-19 vaccine data
The Beijing-based company said its vaccine had produced immune responses in participants, though it remains unclear whether it will prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, or for how long.
Promoted
Payer’s Place: Dr. Anil Singh
Dr. Anil Singh shares his insights into the strategies employed by the organization to identify the most effective digital solutions for their members.
Promoted
Discover the Next-Gen Platform for Integrated Collaborative Care
Beyond EHRs and digital front doors, reducing the gaps in patient care journeys.
