Livzon’s IL-17A/F meets phase III endpoints in plaque psoriasis
Livzon Mabpharm Inc.’s anti-IL-17A/F monoclonal antibody, LZM-012, met the primary endpoint in a phase III trial in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Conducted at Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital, the phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled (secukinumab) trial enrolled 926 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Livzon’s IL-17A/F meets phase III endpoints in plaque psoriasis
Livzon Mabpharm Inc.’s anti-IL-17A/F monoclonal antibody, LZM-012, met the primary endpoint in a phase III trial in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Conducted at Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital, the phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled (secukinumab) trial enrolled 926 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Sino to acquire Lanova and pipeline for up to $950M
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. agreed to fully acquire Lanova Medicines Ltd. by buying an additional 95.09% stake in Lanova at a valuation of up to $950.92 million. Considering Lanova’s estimated cash and deposit of $450 million, Hong Kong-headquartered Sino agreed to pay $500.9 million to Lanova on the date of the transaction, set to close within 30 days of all conditions being satisfied, or July 31, 2025.
34 mainland China biotechs file for Hong Kong IPO in H1 2025
Thirty-six biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies sought a capital raise on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the first half (H1) of 2025, a review by BioWorld found. Of those, 34 companies were from mainland China.
Adcom agrees with FDA: Otsuka’s PTSD treatment needs more study
In a 10-1 vote, the U.S. FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee said Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s studies of its combination post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment did not show enough efficacy. Had the adcom felt otherwise, the path may have been smoother for a new treatment in an indication that hasn’t seen regulatory advancement in decades. The committee’s conclusion, however, is not binding on the FDA, which will make its own decision whether to approve.
Hengrui/Kailera obesity asset delivers solid weight loss in phase III
A glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor dual agonist developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and licensed by Kailera Therapeutics Inc. has shown a mean weight loss of 19.2% at the 6-mg dose with no plateau over 48 weeks in a phase III trial conducted in China.
Australia awards AU$100M in grants to biopharma/med-tech incubators
The Australian government has awarded nearly AU$100 million (US$64.65 million) in grant funding to three biopharma/med-tech incubators to support emerging Australian biopharma and med-tech startups.
News in brief
BioWorld Asia briefs for July 22, 2025
For big pharma, China is a shopper’s dream
Big pharma is increasingly shopping in China to fill its pipelines as it faces looming patent cliffs on major blockbusters coupled with growing pricing pressures on drugs. China’s out-licensing deals grew to represent 32% of global deals in the first half of 2025, according to a Jefferies report on China dealmaking.
In ongoing mRNA evolution, SML Biopharm sights new cancer vaccines
SML Biopharm Co. Ltd. is harnessing mRNA technology to develop novel immunotherapy-based cancer vaccines, including two candidates for cervical and head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Biocon wins first FDA interchangeable label of Novolog biosimilar
The U.S. FDA on July 15 cleared Biocon Biologics Ltd.’s Kirsty (insulin aspart-xjhz) as the first and only interchangeable biosimilar product referencing Novo Nordisk A/S’ Novolog (insulin aspart), a rapid-acting diabetes medication.
June FDA approvals jump, led by three new NMEs
The U.S. FDA approved 22 drugs in June, tying with March for the highest number of approvals and a jump from 15 approvals in May. The FDA approved 107 drugs in the first half (H1) of 2025, making it the third-highest total for this period in BioWorld’s records, trailing 118 approvals in 2024 and 108 in 2020.

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Analysis and data insight

Biopharma financings up from a weak Q1 but fall short of past Q2 highs in 2025
Financings
Historically, Q2 has often been one of the strongest quarters for biopharma financing, but 2025’s figures suggest a more cautious investment climate. Biopharma companies raised $16.02 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, a modest increase from the $13.11 billion brought during Q1. While the...
Biopharma financings total $28.7B in H1, down 59% from 2024
Financings
Biopharma companies raised $7.38 billion across 99 transactions in June 2025, up from $5.55 billion in May and $2.4 billion in April. For the first half of the year (H1), total financings reached $28.74 billion, down 59% from the $70.32 billion raised during the same period in 2024. Although lower...
Self-amplifying mRNA technology underscored for next big pandemic
Cancer
Experts in mRNA convened at the Global Vaccine Forum (GVF) 2025 to weigh the present and future of vaccine technology, including emerging innovations in self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) and drug delivery platforms.
Cullinan deals $712M to test Genrix bispecific TCE in autoimmune
Deals and M&A
Cullinan Therapeutics Inc. swept up ex-China rights to a multiple myeloma (MM)-targeting BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) velinotamig from Chongqing Genrix Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. via a potential $712 million deal June 4. The plan is to repurpose the cancer drug to autoimmune disease.

Financings

Illimis $42M series B to spur study of Aβ-clearing fusion protein
Immune
Illimis Therapeutics Inc. raised ₩58 billion (US$42 million) in a series B financing round. The funds will support development of ILM-01, its lead bispecific fusion protein candidate, into preclinical development for Alzheimer’s disease by the second half of 2025, along with the company’s...

Australia

Imugene’s allogeneic CD19 CAR T sees 75% response rate
Clinical
Immuno-oncology company Imugene Ltd.’s allogeneic, off-the-shelf CD19 CAR T, azercabtagene zapreleucel (azer-cel), has resulted in seven complete responses and three partial responses in a phase Ib trial in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients, according to an interim analysis. The...

Medibank first to cover psychedelic treatment in Australia
Neurology/psychiatric
Australia’s largest health insurance company, Medibank Private Ltd., is the first to reimburse for psychedelic treatment in Australia, funding Emyria Ltd.’s MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) program for post-traumatic stress disorder offered through the Perth Clinic.
Nibec stock soars 30% on $435M peptide deal with US biotech
Deals and M&A
Nibec Co. Ltd. announced May 28 the signing of a potential $435 million license deal for NP-201, its phase II-ready peptide-based pulmonary fibrosis therapy candidate, with an undisclosed U.S.-based biotech company.

China

More Chinese ADCs enter the clinic as biotech race heats up
Clinical
China has proved to be a fertile ground for innovation as evidenced by some big deals in the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space, and the number of candidates entering clinical trials in China or being advanced in the U.S. by Chinese companies.
Circode applies circRNA to heart disease drug R&D, in vivo CAR T
Newco news
Shanghai Circode Biomed Co. Ltd. is set to begin clinical trials of HM-2002, a circular RNA (circRNA)-based drug for ischemic heart disease, having gained IND clearance in China Jan. 10 and the U.S. on May 30, Circode CEO Chenxiang Tang recently told BioWorld.
China approves Ascentage’s lisaftoclax, its first Bcl-2 inhibitor
Regulatory
China’s National Medical Products Administration approved Ascentage Pharma Group Corp. Ltd.’s Bcl-2 selective inhibitor lisaftoclax (APG-2575) for treating adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma who previously received at least one systemic therapy including Bruton’s...
China approves Simcere’s suvemcitug for ovarian cancer
Regulatory
China’s National Medical Products Administration gave the green light to Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.’s Enzeshu (suvemcitug) for treating recurrent ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer in combination with paclitaxel, liposomal doxorubicin, or topotecan in adults...
Wuhan Healthgen gets chance at China IPO with SSE market reforms
Regulatory
Wuhan Healthgen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. gained clearance from the Shanghai Stock Exchange July 1 to list under a recently reinstated IPO growth tier geared towards supporting “unprofitable” biotechnology firms.

Regulatory

FDA approves Dizal’s sunvozertinib for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer
Cancer
Four days ahead of its July 7 PDUFA date, the U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval to Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s sunvozertinib (DZD-9008), branded as Zegfrovy, for treating adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor...

Newco news

Drug Farm harvests new immunomodulators with AI-gene editing tech
Cancer
Shanghai Yao Yuan Biotechnology Ltd., also known as Drug Farm, is advancing a portfolio of immune-modulating therapies for various indications including hepatitis B virus, hepatocellular cancer and a relatively new rare genetic disease called ROSAH, an acronym for retinal dystrophy, optic nerve...

Epimab sells bispecific T-cell engager to Juri in $210M deal
Analysis and data insight
Epimab Biotherapeutics Inc. licensed out a development-ready KLK2/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) for advanced prostate cancer to Juri Biosciences Inc. through a potential $210 million deal.
Samsung Biologics to spin off biosimilar subsidiary Samsung Bioepis
Analysis and data insight
Samsung Biologics Co. Ltd. plans to establish a new holding company and to spin off its biosimilar division, Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd., by October. The corporate restructuring will draw clear lines between Samsung Biologics’ CDMO operations and Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar business.

Science

Proteomics finds surprise commonalities as well as differences in neurodegenerative diseases
Biomarkers
The switch will be flicked today to make the world’s largest dementia-related proteomics dataset freely available to researchers, at the same time as members of the consortium which compiled it publish the proteomics signatures of major...
Turn on vitamin A pathway and regenerate an ear
Ear, nose and throat
Lizards, zebrafish, salamanders and tritons can regrow a tail, a fin, or even an entire limb after amputation. Cut a planarian into pieces, and you will end up with a bunch of them. Researchers at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in...
First bespoke gene editing therapy treats rare metabolic disease
Conferences
Using a customized gene editing therapy, researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have reported success in treating an infant with a severe metabolic disorder. Kiran Musunuru, Barry J. Gertz Professor for Translational Research in...
Nuevocor draws $45M series B for gene therapy in rare heart disease
Clinical
Nuevocor Pte. Ltd. has closed a $45 million series B, enabling it to move lead gene therapy NVC-001 into the clinic in the treatment of an inherited form of cardiomyopathy.
Commander proteins linked to lysosomal dysfunction in Parkinson’s
Neurology/psychiatric
Genes associated with lysosomal dysfunction increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study led by scientists at Northwestern University. The discovery also explains why some people who carry a pathogenic variant of the GBA1...
Australian researchers discover new compound to treat long COVID
Infection
Researchers have developed a new compound that can prevent long COVID symptoms in mice that could lead to a future drug for the debilitating condition in humans. Developed by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research...

podcast microphone, sound waves on purple background Breakthrough medicines, billion-dollar deals, spectacular clinical successes and crushing failures all play a part in biopharma’s dynamic story. Developers make scientific advancements with the potential to change everything, only to face regulatory conundrums and ever-fluctuating markets. BioWorld tracks key events in the fast-moving sector every business day. Now, the BioWorld Insider podcast lets you hear directly from the movers and shakers whose collective work is changing how we all live. Join us each week for a new conversation.

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