Two Hepatitis D Candidates Take A Step Towards The Market

Novotech's CEO talks about rising interest for trials in regions with “regulatory agility” and “strategic insulation” from geopolitical complexity, especially among emerging and mid-sized biotech sponsors. Operational "reassessment” among some sponsors on exposure to China-based CROs/CRDMOs is another area he discussed.

Akeso’s penpulimab will be the second to hit the US market for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the first to win FDA approval for the indication based on clinical findings in US patients.

The Belgium-based firm will take the first-in-class drug, based on tick saliva, targets inflammation without increasing bleeding, into a Phase IIb trial is in preparation, supported by a new series B funding round.

CFO François Roger tells Scrip the French drugmaker is flexible geographically on making investments but its spend in the US has risen regardless of the threat of tariffs.