China CAR-T Front-Runner Allegations Reveal Soft Underbelly Of Development Race

A report from a short-seller group accuses Chinese firm Nanjing Legend of intentionally omitting clinical data for its CAR-T candidate, an allegation the company has refuted while global partner J&J says it remains "optimistic" about the product and conducted "careful" reviews of the data.

Destruction of leukaemia cell, conceptual image. 3D illustration which can be used to illustrate blood cancer treatment
Report Claims Nanjing Legend Used Selected Data For CAR-T Asset Licensed To Janssen

Legend Biotech Corp. has been leading the pack in a sizzling CAR-T development race in China, its most advanced asset in the field LCAR-B38M grabbing headlines at last year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting with a 100% overall response rate in multiple myeloma, followed by a global partnership deal with Janssen R&D LLC for $350m upfront.

More from China

Hengrui Renews Global Phase III Push As China Players Plan Pivotal Multinational Trials

 

After a more than three-year hiatus, China's Hengrui has signalled its return to multiregional Phase III trials as it looks to globalize its innovative pipeline. Meanwhile, a number of other Chinese players have announced plans to kick off Phase III trials this year and beyond.

RemeGen Fast-Tracks Potential World-First BLys/APRIL Agent For gMG In Global Phase III Trial

 

RemeGen is planning to complete enrolment in the global Phase III RemeMG study with telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Chinese firm has already sidelined two other global Phase III trials with the molecule to prioritize the indication.

AstraZeneca Expands Emphasis On China, Already A Key Market

 
• By 

UK pharma will invest $2.5bn in Beijing R&D hub, build a vaccine manufacturing site with BioKangtai, and partner in chronic disease with Syneron and in oncology/immunology with Harbour BioMed.

Kelun Wins World’s First TROP2 ADC Approval In Lung Cancer

 

While diverging from partner Merck & Co. in its study dosage of sacituzumab tirumotecan, Kelun has garnered the world’s first approval, in China, for a TROP2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, for the treatment of lung cancer.

More from Focus On Asia

RemeGen Fast-Tracks Potential World-First BLys/APRIL Agent For gMG In Global Phase III Trial

 

RemeGen is planning to complete enrolment in the global Phase III RemeMG study with telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Chinese firm has already sidelined two other global Phase III trials with the molecule to prioritize the indication.

Japan T-Reg Venture RegCell Raises New Funds, Relocates To US

 
• By 

Kyoto-based venture moves HQ to California to expand R&D and business outreach for its regulatory T-cell technology, as it raises around $46m in public and private funding.

Generative AI In Drug Discovery And India’s Potential To Leapfrog

 
• By 

Heads of Novartis Biomedical, World Economic Forum and Indian majors like Sun Pharma’s SPARC, among others, discuss generative AI in drug discovery along with pointers for India to leapfrog the R&D process