Chimera Bioengineering Inc. has been selected as the winner of the Asian Fund for Cancer Research's (AFCR) 2021 BRACE Award Venture Competition, contributing $500,000 as part of a recent $7.5 million capital infusion and bringing to $26 million the company’s total amount raised to date.
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) gave the green light to Pfizer Inc.’s third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, Lorbrena (lorlatinib), for patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
South Korean companies Ubix Therapeutics Inc. and SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. are partnering to develop targeted protein degradation cancer therapies.
Beigene Ltd.’s BTK inhibitor Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) has met the primary endpoints in a phase III trial to treat patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.
The quixotic course of the cancer therapy Ontak continues with new top-line data from Citius Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company’s phase III study of I/Ontak (E-7777), a reformulation of previously FDA-approved oncology treatment Ontak (denileukin diftitox), was consistent with the prior formulation. No new safety signals were identified in treating persistent or recurrent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Shanghai Allist Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, furmonertinib, met its primary endpoint in a phase III trial, demonstrating longer progression-free survival vs. first-generation EGFR TKI Iressa (gefitinib, Astrazeneca plc) as first-line therapy for locally advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer.
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has in-licensed Eli Lilly and Co.’s olaratumab antibody, agreeing to pay $5 million up front for exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize radiolabeled forms of the antibody for the diagnosis and treatment of human cancers.
Cellpoint B.V. has picked up U.S and European rights to a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy from Shenzhen Pregene Biopharma Co. Ltd. Cellpoint will develop and commercialize the candidate, PRG-1801, for the treatment of hematological indications.
Biosion Inc. has out-licensed ex-China rights for its anti-Siglec-15 monoclonal antibody BSI-060T and additional preclinical assets with the same target to Pyxis Oncology Inc. for $10 million up front and potential milestone payments of up to $222.5 million, plus single to low double-digit royalties on commercial sales.
Innovent Biologics Inc. has acquired exclusive rights to commercialize Eli Lilly and Co.’s oncology drugs Cyramza (ramucirumab) and Retsevmo (selpercatinib) in mainland China, where it will be responsible for the pricing, importation, marketing, distribution and sales of the two products.