China

In the head-to-head Phase III HARMONY trial in metformin-failed type 2 diabetes, HighTide's HTD1801 yielded a mean 1.12% reduction in HbA1c from baseline at 24 weeks, versus 0.93% for AstraZeneca’s Farxiga.

Akeso’s first-in-class PD-1/VEG-F bispecific ivonescimab is a landmark achievement for China’s biotech sector, but the firm is already expanding its ambitions in oncology and beyond, including a challenge to Roche in Alzheimer’s.

Sichuan Biokin Pharmaceutical's BMS-partnered bispecific antibody-drug conjugate iza-bren had met both endpoints of PFS and OS in a China-only Phase III trial for the second-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Ascletis’ peptide co-formulation of ASC36 and ASC35 outperformed the co-formulation of Eli Lilly’s eloralintide and tirzepatide as well as eloralintide alone in a rat model, boosting the China-based firm’s confidence in upcoming clinical outcomes.

Byterna, Starna, Vivacta and DeliNova ride surging investor sentiment on in vivo CAR-T assets to secure venture funding.

In a world-first, Beijing Mabworks has scored a Phase III clinical win for its novel anti-CD20 antibody in the treatment of primary membranous nephropathy. However, multiple global contenders including Roche are threatening to come from behind in the race.

Newly revealed data on HLX43’s recommended Phase II/III dose has boosted Henlius’s confidence to launch up to eight Phase III trials of the ADC in lung cancer. Phase III trials of the agent in more cancer types are also on the horizon.

On the back of long-term durability data expected from a Phase II study in the fourth quarter, NovaBridge plans to advance VIS-101 into a Phase III head-to-head trial against Roche’s Vabysmo.

Chinese biopharmaceutical innovation is putting pressure on US drug companies to accelerate R&D, the executive told attendees.

A new 10-year, government-supported R&D program in China will focus on new targets and emerging technologies which can be translated into first-in-class drugs and give birth to top players in the global pharma industry.

Boehringer’s PDE4B inhibitor Jascayd was approved for IPF in China on Oct. 22, marking its second nod globally soon after the US. The German firm discusses with Scrip the opportunities and challenges in this market.

RemeGen’s disitamab vedotin in combination with toripalimab significantly improved OS/PFS in Chinese patients with HER2-positive advanced urothelial carcinoma regardless of HER2 expression levels, meaning over 80% of patients with this condition could potentially benefit.

In a China-only Phase III trial, Sichuan Kelun-Biotech’s sac-TMT significantly cut the risk of death by 40% versus chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of non-squamous EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The ADC was administered at a higher dose than in Merck’s multiple Phase III trials of the same agent.

Biokin/SystImmune’s anti-EGFRxHER3 ADC iza-bren achieved one primary and the key secondary objectives in a Phase III trial in Chinese patients with R/M NPC and its lower incidence of interstitial lung disease compared with other ADCs is also noteworthy.

Besting BeOne Medicines’ Tevimbra plus chemotherapy, interim results from the head-to-head HARMONi-6 study of Akeso's ivonescimab plus chemotherapy show the combo might have the longest PFS versus its single-target immuno-oncology competitors.

Multiple Chinese biopharma firms reach new deals with major Western and other partners in a spree of licensing deals over a one-day period, with ADCs, in vivo CAR and bifunctional fusion protein therapies among the target assets.

Kelun’s TROP2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan once again marks a world-first in its class, this time receiving approval in China for second-line, EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

Henlius reports interim Phase III win for serplulimab in the adjuvant, perioperative treatment of early-stage gastric cancer, offering first potential chemo-free option in this setting.

Suzhou-based Accuredit Therapeutics led the pack of recent China financings with a $75m series A. Other major funding rounds in the country backed by venture capital and private equity firms included Beijing GRIT Biotechnology's $53.5m series C.

Zovaglutide tied Amgen’s MariTide in weight reduction at Week 24 in a Phase II study, but with a potentially better safety profile. However, efficacy versus existing once-weekly drugs is a remaining question.