Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals’ long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), GZR-18, achieved as much as 17.29% weight loss in a phase IIb trial in obese and overweight Chinese patients. Developed independently by Shanghai-based Gan & Lee, GZR-18 is a once-weekly or potentially biweekly GLP-1 RA being developed to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and for weight management for obese or overweight patients.

Innovent Biologics Inc.’s glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR) dual agonist, mazdutide, met the primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints in a phase III type 2 diabetes trial in Chinese adults. “Mazdutide is the first and fastest-developed GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist in the world, and we are actively promoting the development of mazdutide for weight loss, T2D and other indications,” Lei Qian, Innovent’s vice president of clinical development, said.

Sotio Biotech AS and Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. are partnering to discover antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) via an option and license agreement worth up to $325.5 million plus sales royalties. The deal grants Sotio of Prague, Czech Republic, the option to license multiple fully human bispecific antibodies generated with Biocytogen’s Renlite platform, which Sotio will use to develop next-generation ADCs targeting solid tumors.

Innovent Biologics Inc.’s glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR) dual agonist, mazdutide, met the primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints in a phase III type 2 diabetes trial in Chinese adults. “Mazdutide is the first and fastest-developed GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist in the world, and we are actively promoting the development of mazdutide for weight loss, T2D and other indications,” Lei Qian, Innovent’s vice president of clinical development, said.

Sotio Biotech AS and Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. are partnering to discover antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) via an option and license agreement worth up to $325.5 million plus sales royalties. The deal grants Sotio of Prague, Czech Republic, the option to license multiple fully human bispecific antibodies generated with Biocytogen’s Renlite platform, which Sotio will use to develop next-generation ADCs targeting solid tumors.

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has received clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct clinical trials in China with SYS-6016, the company’s mRNA respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

Confidence in working with Chinese biopharma companies has dropped by 30% to 50% for U.S.-based life sciences companies, with Chinese contract development and manufacturing organizations the hardest hit, according to a recent LEK survey of global life sciences companies on the impact of the pending U.S. Biosecure Act.

Biocity Biopharmaceutics Co. Ltd.’s selective endothelin receptor type A antagonist, SC-0062, met the primary endpoint of reducing proteinuria in a phase II chronic kidney disease trial. The candidate showed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in proteinuria, with a clear dose-response relationship and good safety profile.