Eli Lilly is making investments in China, Japan and South Korea. Pfizer has broken into obesity thanks to a Chinese nod won by its local partner Sciwind Biosciences. Astellas' CEO attributed a better-than-expected reimbursement price in Japan to the U.S.' most-favored-nation policy. And more.
1. Lilly beefs up oral GLP-1 capacity with $3B manufacturing pledge in China
Eli Lilly is investing $3 billion over the next 10 years in China to beef up manufacturing capacity for its pipeline, including the GLP-1 pill orforglipron, which is under review in more than 40 countries including China and the U.S. The first tranche of the investment, about $200 million, will go to local CDMO Pharmaron to support its technological capabilities and scale expansion.
2. After China outlay, Lilly plugs $126M into Japan manufacturing plant expansion
Along with the China investment, Lilly also unveiled a 20 billion Japanese yen ($126 million) expansion at a plant in Japan. The company plans to install a new production line and add a warehouse at its lone in-house production facility in the country. The project will bolster production of diabetes and obesity drugs, according to Nikkei Asia.
3. Lilly pledges $500M to South Korea biopharma industry, following Roche’s lead
Simultaneously, Lilly is committing $500 million over five years to help South Korea’s biopharma industry grow. As part of a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean government, the money is meant to attract clinical trials to the country while also supporting the opening of an incubator as part of the Lilly Gateway Labs network.
4. Pfizer breaks into obesity market in China with approval for Sciwind-partnered GLP-1
Just a few days after Pfizer signed on to market a GLP-1 drug in China, local authorities have approved the injectable med, ecnoglutide, made by Sciwind Biosciences, to treat obesity. In a 48-week trial, patients on the highest dose of ecnoglutide achieved average weight loss of 15.4% from baseline. The drug is also indicated for Type 2 diabetes.
5. Trump’s MFN drug pricing push helps Astellas win higher Izervay price in Japan (Bloomberg)
Astellas Pharma won reimbursement in Japan for its eye med Izervay at a level that was more generous than expected after the company told local authorities that domestic drug costs could influence U.S. pricing under President Donald Trump’s most-favored-nation policy, Astellas CEO Naoki Okamura said. Although it’s unclear whether Japanese officials explicitly considered the argument behind closed doors, the outcome suggests a shift in the government’s stance, he said.
6. Merck KGaA drops pipeline assets from SpringWorks buyout, Hengrui licensing deal
Merck KGaA has discontinued a PARP1 inhibitor that was licensed from Hengrui Pharma for $169 million upfront in 2023. At that time, potential milestones included in the deal added up to $1.5 billion. A phase 1b study of the drug in solid tumors and colorectal cancer has been terminated.
Other News of Note:
7. Taiwan earmarks $755M for multi-year drug supply resilience program
8. Tenacia builds $308M biobucks deal with Rapport to develop epilepsy drug in greater China
9. Ascletis eyes quarterly GLP-1 dosing following phase 2 obesity readout
10. Eisai chooses 'Pokémon Sleep' app to battle bad sleep habits in awareness campaign
11. Daiichi Sankyo-Seagen ADC patent dispute comes to an end (release)
12. FDA gives Glenmark thumbs-up for first 'true' generic version of GSK's asthma inhaler Flovent
13. Daiichi, AZ’s Enhertu under FDA priority review in adjuvant breast cancer (Regulatory tracker)
14. Bavarian Nordic, Serum Institute expand manufacturing partnership to cover chikungunya vaccine (release)
15. Charles River signs MOUs with 3 APAC partners to support biologics (BioSpectrum)