Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.’s anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody serplulimab has generated positive data in a phase III trial as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Five-year survival rates for people with metastatic colorectal cancer haven’t budged much in recent decades but new data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference pushed the boundary enough to be notable.

When he first stepped into the field of glycoproteomics, particularly the potential of truncated O-glycans as cancer targets, Constantine Theodoropulos, CEO of Go Therapeutics Inc., said the reaction from peers was less than encouraging. 

I-Mab Biopharma Co. Ltd. chief medical officer John Hayslip said the firm is “moving forward at our best speed” in tandem with partner Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. to produce a diagnostic test that could be used in further clinical work with anti-CD73 antibody uliledlimab, for which results from an ongoing phase II trial were disclosed May 26.

China has granted a green light for Glaxosmithkline plc’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Cervarix, for girls ages 9 to 14. The HPV bivalent vaccine is used against types 16 and 18 in a two-dose course to prevent cervical cancer. It’s the first imported two-dose HPV vaccine for the age group to be approved in China, the company said. A three-dose schedule of Cervarix won Chinese approval in July 2016 for girls and women ages 9 to 25. To date, the two-dose regimen has been approved in about 100 global markets.

Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. has picked up near-global rights to develop and commercialize an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Claudin18.2 from Lanova Medicines Ltd. for $25 million up front. The deal excludes greater China and South Korea.

Zhejiang Acea Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. failed to obtain marketing approval from China’s NMPA for its third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abivertinib. The NDA was based on a phase II trial of abivertinib in patients with EGFR Thr790Met point mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer with disease progression from prior EGFR inhibitors.

In a deal potentially worth more than $1.4 billion, Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has out-licensed a large molecule drug in cancer to Merck & Co. Inc. for development and commercialization outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Cullinan Oncology Inc.’s lead program deal with Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. subsidiary Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. brings $275 million up front and the potential for as much as $130 million in regulatory milestone payments.