Sinocelltech Group Ltd. has received marketing approval for its recombinant chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, ripertamab (SCT-400), from China’s NMPA to treat patients with CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The country’s first homegrown anti-CD20 therapy, ripertamab has been shown to have similar efficacy to global blockbuster rituximab but with a superior safety profile.
Australian radiopharmaceutical company Advancell Co. Ltd. closed an AU$18 million (US$12.4 million) series B round that will take its lead targeted alpha-emitting radiotherapy, ADVC-001, for metastatic prostate cancer to the clinic by the end of 2022.
Japan’s Healios K.K. is in discussions with Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agenc about the regulatory path forward for its Multistem somatic stem cell products, for which it conducted phase II/III trials in ischemic stroke and a phase II trial in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Everest Medicines Ltd. has inked an agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc. to pass the latter’s subsidiary, Immunomedics Inc., exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) in greater China, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Mongolia.
A subsidiary of Jiangxi Jemincare Group Co. Ltd. has out-licensed global rights to its androgen receptor degrader JMKX-002992 to Roche Holding AG and its subsidiary Genentech Inc. in a deal worth up to $650 million.
Canwell Biotech Ltd. raised more than ¥100 million (US$14.8 million) in a series A+ financing. The funds will help accelerate trials for its pipeline of anticancer assets, such as the TLR7 agonist CAN-1012, and preclinical development of other projects too, CEO Henry Yu told BioWorld. The State Development and Investment Corporation Venture Capital Co. Ltd. was the round’s sole investor.
Glubio Therapeutics Inc. has raised $22 million in a series A+ round to support the development of its targeted protein degradation drugs. With the investment, Glubio expects to file INDs for two molecular glue degraders for hematological malignancies in early 2023 in both China and the U.S.
Neither the primary endpoint of overall response rate nor the key secondary endpoint of progression free survival achieved statistical significance in Isofol Medical AB’s phase III Agent study of arfolitixorin in combination with 5 fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), licensee Solasia Pharma KK reported.
Beigene Ltd.’s tislelizumab met its primary endpoint of noninferior overall survival vs. sorafenib as a first-line treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), marking the eighth positive phase III trial readout for the anti-PD-1 drug across multiple cancer types and lines of therapy.
Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has raised $120 million in a series B financing to support development of its cell therapy pipeline and technology platform, as well as the construction of a manufacturing plant. The round was jointly led by Qiming Venture Partners and Quan Capital Management LLC.