Investments in early stage biotech companies were in focus at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s (HKEX) Biotech Summit 2022. The virtual event on Sept. 1 saw discussions centered on this investment trend for younger biotech firms, which looks to be where capital is headed in the sector after a cooldown for listings in Chinese stock markets in the first half of 2022.
Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research and Development Centre Ltd. has patented cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research and Development Centre Ltd. has disclosed pyrimidines or pyridines acting as adenosine receptor antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Shanghai Microport Ep Medtech Co. Ltd. went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market and raised ¥1.17 billion (US$169.5 million) with its initial public offering. The company’s issue price was ¥16.51 per share. After opening at ¥15.50 per share, the share price dived to ¥13.15 at the closing of its first trading day. Microport Ep is an associated company of the Hong Kong-listed Microport Scientific Corp.
Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has raised HK$471.1 million (US$60 million) in net proceeds through an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Sept. 1. It plans to use about three-quarters of the proceeds to advance clinical trials of two of its core anticancer candidates, YH-003 and YH-001. Company shares (HKEX:2315), initially offered at HK$25.22 each, closed at HK$26 on their first trading day.
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.
For the first time since they’ve had access to U.S. capital, biopharma and med-tech companies based in China and Hong Kong are having to comply with the same accountability standards companies in the U.S. and other countries must follow as a condition of trading on U.S. markets.
Hansoh Healthtech Co. Ltd., part of Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize an oral SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor from Beijing Huayi Health Drug Discovery Institute, also known as the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI). The deal includes ¥12 million (US$1.8 million) up front and up to ¥1.68 billion in potential milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales.
Lee’s Pharmaceutical (HK) Ltd. and its affiliate, Zhaoke Pharmaceutical (Hefei) Co. Ltd., expanded their rights to lucinactant Surfaxin, lyophilized lucinactant Surfaxin LS and Aerosurf from Windtree Therapeutics Inc. in a $78.9 million global license deal to develop and commercialize the candidates for the treatment of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome and other potential indications.
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory and Guangdong Medical University have disclosed peptides acting as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of hypertension.