Israeli biotech Biolinerx Ltd. will hand off the rights to its stem cell mobilizer, motixafortide, in Asia to China’s Gloria Biosciences Co. Ltd. via an out-licensing deal worth up to $280 million, news that sent stocks soaring nearly 13% on Oct. 31.
Astrazeneca plc is making a $220 million equity investment and tossing in $25 million up front to Cellectis SA as part of a new collaboration agreement. The deal is part of Astrazeneca’s efforts, including a July licensing agreement worth about $1 billion with Pfizer Inc., to delve deeper into gene therapy for treating cancer and rare diseases.
Drawn to the potential for improved selectivity and safety profiles of PARP-1-specific inhibitors over their first-generation counterparts, Merck KGaA signed an exclusive, worldwide license deal with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. worth up to €1.4 billion (US$1.5 billion) to gain access to the latter’s next-generation poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 inhibitor, HRS-1167.
American pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) will pick up the rights to Lianbio Co. Ltd.’s FDA-approved drug for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopath, Camzyos (mavacamten), in six Asian countries by paying $350 million up front and waiving some outstanding payments.
Shanghai-based Henlius Biotech Inc. and India’s Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. agreed upon a potential €185 million (US$195.38 million) licensing deal for Intas to develop and sell Henlius’ China NMPA-approved lung cancer drug, serplulimab, across Europe and India. Serplulimab (HLX-02) is a recombinant humanized PD-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) injection that first gained approval as Hansizhuang in March 2022.
Shanghai-based Henlius Biotech Inc. and India’s Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. agreed upon a potential €185 million (US$195.38 million) licensing deal for Intas to develop and sell Henlius’ China NMPA-approved lung cancer drug, serplulimab, across Europe and India. Serplulimab (HLX-02) is a recombinant humanized PD-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) injection that first gained approval as Hansizhuang in March 2022.
Drawn to the potential for improved selectivity and safety profiles of PARP-1-specific inhibitors over their first-generation counterparts, Merck KGaA signed an exclusive, worldwide license deal with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. worth up to €1.4 billion (US$1.5 billion) to gain access to the latter’s next-generation poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 inhibitor, HRS-1167.
ABVC Biopharma Inc. entered a multiyear, global licensing agreement for its CNS drugs to treat major depressive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The license deal with Aibtl Biopharma Inc. would cover clinical trial, registration, manufacturing, supply and distribution rights. The products were valued at $667 million by a third party, according to ABVC.
More layoffs are coming at Amgen Inc., which said it plans to cut about 350 positions from newly acquired Horizon Therapeutics plc. The announcement marks the company’s third round of cutbacks for 2023, following 300 employees in January and another 450 in March, and comes a few weeks after closing on the $27.8 billion buyout.
American pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) will pick up the rights to Lianbio Co. Ltd.’s FDA-approved drug for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopath, Camzyos (mavacamten), in six Asian countries by paying $350 million up front and waiving some outstanding payments.