AstraZeneca is paying $1 billion up front to acquire Gracell Biotechnologies, a clinical-stage cell therapy developer. The deal is the latest in a series of AstraZeneca moves intended to expand its presence in the burgeoning cell therapy field.
BeiGene is expanding its cancer drug pipeline, landing global rights to an Ensem Therapeutics cancer drug candidate ready to enter the clinic. The drug targets CDK2, an enzyme whose excessive activity is associated with cancer progression.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
AstraZeneca gains global rights to an oral GLP-1 agonist on track to reach Phase 2 testing in 2024. Under China-based Eccogene, the small molecule’s Phase 1 data show reductions in glucose and body weight.
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.
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.
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.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Tencent-backed company, which offers a community for clinicians in China and consumer-facing information, raised $500 million in funding.