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.

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.

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.

Sandoz’s CEO used the firm’s latest results call to highlight “trade distortion” in the pencillins market as a result of US tariffs, urging European authorities to take action to reduce the region’s “geopolitical exposure” and safeguard the long-term sustainability of European-produced penicillins.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chinese medtechs are expanding rapidly worldwide, but gaining market access within China itself – poised to become the world’s largest medtech market – is proving to be a very different challenge.

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.