Healios, Athersys Confident Despite Missed Japan Stroke Endpoint

Investors Much Less Upbeat

A missed primary endpoint in new top-line results from a Japanese trial with the stem cell therapy for stroke MultiStem hits Athersys and Japanese partner hard, casting a shadow over ongoing studies. 

stroke patient
Missed stroke endpoint for Healios' cell therapy • Source: Shutterstock

New top-line data from Athersys, Inc.’s Japanese partner Healios K.K.’s placebo-controlled Phase II/III TREASURE study with the stem cell therapy MultiStem (invimestrocel; HLCM051) in ischemic stroke showed evidence of therapeutic impact on multiple clinically relevant endpoints over one year.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Japan

US-China Tariff War Pressures Pharma’s Complex Supply Chain

 
• By 

Although pharmaceuticals are exempt from the US reciprocal tariff policy, for now, the escalating global trade war is already posing practical on-the-ground problems for some companies, Scrip hears.

AstraZeneca Logs Japan Growth Despite Price Cuts

 
• By 

AstraZeneca logs growth in Japan despite a big reimbursement price cut for one of its top sellers and expects 40 approvals in the country over the next six years.

Sumitomo Offloads Asia Pharma Ops To Marubeni For $480m

 
• By 

The latest in a long line of restructuring measures will see Sumitomo Pharma making a stepped sale of its pharma operations in Asia to major Japanese trading house Marubeni.

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.

More from Focus On Asia

Will China’s Retaliatory Tariffs Galvanize Manufacturing Onshoring?

 

China’s imposed large retaliatory tariffs on US pharmaceuticals on 10 April, but some domestic firms with in-licensed, US-origin assets were already moving to localized manufacturing.

New Data Strengthen Case For RemeGen’s Telitacicept In gMG

 

Results from a China Phase III trial show the potential of RemeGen's fusion protein telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis. But study design differences make direct comparisons with argenx's FcRn inhibitor Vyvgart challenging.

China Deal-Making Matures As Foreign Partners Derisk Asset Acquisition

 
• By 

Chinese biopharma companies’ alliance strategies are transitioning from immediate cash needs to more strategic management of portfolios, as MNCs continue to hunt for derisked assets.