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Fierce Pharma Asia—Takeda R&D chief's new strategy; AZ, Daiichi's ADC nod; Fosun's failed Henlius buy
  • Publisher:Phexcom
  • Publication:2025/1/23

Takeda's R&D chief explained the company's new investment priorities. AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's second antibody-drug conjugate has won its initial FDA approval in breast cancer. Fosun Pharma's attempt to privatize Henlius Biotech has failed. And more.

1. Takeda tightens reins on early-stage investments, looks to expand option deals: R&D head

Takeda is raising the bar and narrowing its focus for its early-stage pipeline, leading to several recent program discontinuations. The company previously worked across about a dozen modalities, but it's now zeroing in on four, R&D chief Andy Plump, M.D., Ph.D., recently told Fierce Biotech. Takeda is also putting a heavy focus on option-based deals, bringing in assets only after partners have run the early testing, he added.

2. Datroway, 2nd ADC from AstraZeneca-Daiichi collab, wins first FDA nod in breast cancer

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate has crossed the FDA finish line with an initial approval in HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. But the industry’s attention remains focused on the non-small cell lung cancer opportunity for the drug, now called Datroway, with another FDA decision and a key first-line readout expected this year.

3. Fosun's proposed Henlius Biotech buyout fails to pass shareholder vote

Henlius Biotech’s investors have shot down majority shareholder Fosun Pharma’s take-private proposal. Fosun in June offered to buy the roughly 40% stake in Henlius that it didn’t already own for 5.4 billion Hong Kong dollars (about $693 million). Henlius has six commercial products in China, including the PD-1 inhibitor serplulimab.

4. BMS, Takeda's Chinese partners file for IPOs, sending Ascentage, Biokin and Bao bundling toward listings

China’s Ascentage Pharma filed for an IPO on the Nasdaq, seeking a second listing beyond its current position on Hong Kong's stock exchange. Of the $134 million the company expects to raise, $40 million is earmarked for the U.S. development of olverembatinib, for which Takeda secured an option last year. Two other biotechs, Sichuan Biokin Pharmaceutical and Shanghai Bao Pharmaceuticals, filed for Hong Kong IPOs.

5. InnoCare, Keymed sell ex-China rights for bispecific to RTW-built biotech in $520M deal

The “NewCo” model continues to gain popularity among Chinese biotechs. In the latest example, InnoCare Pharma and KeyMed Biosciences have sold the international rights to a clinical-stage CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody to a newly created U.S.-based firm called Prolium Biosciences. The startup is backed by RTW Investments.

6. WuXi AppTec sells US medical device testing business to NAMSA

After divesting its Advanced Therapies unit, WuXi AppTec has decided to sell its U.S. medical device testing business to regulatory consulting firm NAMSA for an undisclosed sum. The unit operates facilities in Georgia and Minnesota. Still, WuXi Apptec is moving forward with building a drug manufacturing campus in Delaware, Rick Connell, Ph.D., the company’s U.S. and EU president, said in an email to employees.

Other News of Note:

7. Samsung Biologics sidesteps CDMO industry trend with 23% growth in 2024

8. CDMO Joinn Biologics snaps up China biologics plant from Lonza in push to tackle Asia-Pacific market

9. Leo bags EU rights to Junshi's Loqtorzi, putting marketing muscle behind PD-1 launch

10. ArriVent continues to bulk out ADC pipeline, paying Lepu $47M for preclinical GI asset

11. Takeda to establish China innovation center in Chengdu (China Daily)

12. Daiichi builds ‘smart’ research lab in San Diego (release)

13. Mitsubishi in final talks with Bain Capital to sell pharma unit (Reuters)