AstraZeneca made a big commitment to China as CEO Pascal Soriot joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a trip to the country. Boehringer Ingelheim secured a preclinical inflammatory bowel disease bispecific from Simcere. Daiichi Sankyo's U.S. chief talked about the success—and challenges—the company is seeing with Enhertu and Datroway. And more.
1. AstraZeneca vows $15B China investment to boost cell therapy and radioconjugate capabilities
AstraZeneca said it will invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand drug manufacturing and R&D. The company highlighted cell therapy and radioconjugates as targeted areas for investment. The announcement was made as AZ CEO Pascal Soriot joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s delegation of more than 50 representatives on a state visit to China. GSK’s board chair Jonathan Symonds and Haleon CEO Brian McNamara were also on the delegation.
2. AstraZeneca returns to China's CSPC for $18.5B obesity deal
Right on the heels of the investment pledge, AZ on Friday unveiled a deal worth up to $18.5 billion with China's CSPC Pharmaceuticals for the ex-China rights to the biopharma’s once-monthly injectable weight management portfolio of eight programs. The deal features $1.2 billion in upfront cash.
3. Boehringer pens €1.05B deal for Simcere's preclinical IBD bispecific
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim has obtained ex-China rights to a preclinical inflammatory bowel disease bispecific antibody from Simcere. The drug targets TL1A and IL-23p19 and has “demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, even outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies” in preclinical studies, Boehringer said. The deal could be worth up to 1.05 billion euros.
4. Daiichi Sankyo navigates complexity of success as Enhertu, Datroway push for market dominance
As Enhertu moves to earlier lines of treatment, Daiichi Sankyo is dealing with some nuanced treatment questions that could affect the star antibody-drug conjugate’s revenue outlook. These include how long the drug should be used in first-line breast cancer and whether it’s suitable for continuous neoadjuvant-plus-adjuvant treatment in early-stage disease. It all comes as Datroway faces increased competition in the TROP2 space.
5. Takeda, still in a Vyvanse slog, lifts guidance as it looks to new wave of growth
During the nine months ended Dec. 31, Takeda generated revenue of 3.4 trillion Japanese yen ($22.3 billion), down 3.3% year over year, no thanks to generic erosion of Vyvanse. However, the gap between the Vyvanse decline and growth from new meds is narrowing. Looking to its next wave of growth, Takeda is preparing for the launches of narcolepsy med oveporexton and polycythemia vera treatment rusfertide.
6. Qilu programs path into cardiometabolic disease with $120M, AI-enabled Insilico alliance
Insilico Medicines has signed another partner for its artificial intelligence drug discovery platform. This time, Qilu Pharmaceutical is offering up to $120 million to collaborate on small molecules for treating cardiometabolic diseases. Insilico will be responsible for designing and optimizing the molecules, while Qilu will handle development and commercialization.
7. Formation Bio’s China shopping spree continues with $500M biobucks autoimmune pact
Formation Bio’s newly created subsidiary Kenmare Bio is gaining ex-China rights to a miR-124 activator from China’s Jiangsu Chia Tai Feng Hai Pharmaceutical in a deal worth up to $500 million. The Formation unit will use its AI capabilities to accelerate the drug’s development “in a range of autoimmune diseases.” Sino Biopharmaceutical’s Chia Tai Feng Hai has studied the drug in preclinical models for ulcerative colitis.
Other News of Note:
8. China regulators suspend sale of Sun Pharma's dementia med after site inspection
9. Lisata reclaims China rights to solid tumor candidate ahead of acquisition
10. ST Pharm inks $56M deal to produce API for a US biotech
11. FDA sets decision date for Summit’s PD-1xVEGF bid (regulatory tracker)
12. Elevar refiles Hengrui-partnered PD-1 combo with FDA in first-line liver cancer (release)