Chinese companies have a Big Pharma dream. Experts told Fierce that the U.S. Treasury's draft policy on banning certain U.S. investments in China is too ambiguous and could backfire. Takeda's novel orexin drug has won a favorable DEA designation. And more.
1. Could we see 10 Chinese Big Pharmas within a decade? Some CEOs think so
Chinese biopharmas are aiming for global commercialization. Senior executives from companies like SBP Group, Hengrui Pharma and DualityBio predict that multiple domestic drugmakers could break into the ranks of global Big Pharma within 10 years. But scaling international phase 3 trials independently and establishing a meaningful global commercial presence remain key hurdles.
2. ‘Flying blind’: Why experts fear Treasury’s China biotech investment crackdown will backfire
The Treasury’s proposed U.S. investment ban on Chinese biotech could backfire on the U.S., RA Capital’s Peter Kolchinsky, Ph.D., and other top biotech venture capitalists warned. Because the proposal would blind the U.S. from the competitive landscape, U.S. investors might walk away from biotech, he argued. In addition, legal experts flagged that the draft policy’s ambiguous language may cast a wide net and deter regular dealmaking activities.
3. Orzeyful's 'lighter' DEA schedule paves way for Takeda's first-in-class narcolepsy launch
Takeda’s first-in-class orexin inhibitor Orzeyful has been assigned to the Schedule IV category by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The favorable designation puts Orzeyful in an advantage over oxybates such as Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Xyrem and Xywav for narcolepsy. It also bodes well for the broader orexin class, Jefferies analysts noted.
4. Legend Biotech shares fall 16% after first earnings report under new CEO
Legend Biotech’s stock price suffered this week after the company gave a conservative projection for 2027, marking a rocky debut for new CEO Ingrid Zhang. During the CAR-T biotech’s earnings call, CFO Carlos Santos said that Wall Street’s current sales consensus for 2027 sits “at the higher end” of the company’s internal projections.
5. After court win, WuXi AppTec scores removal from US list of Chinese military companies
The U.S. Department of Defense has removed WuXi AppTec from its Section 1260H list, which includes entities it deems as Chinese military companies. Because the action was taken to comply with a court-ordered preliminary injunction, the DOD may re-list the company later, although Macquarie Capital analyst Tony Ren suggested that re-listing after removal is rare.
Other News of Note:
6. FDA cites record request breakdowns in trio of warning letters to API makers
7. Lilly beats Novo to land China's 1st oral GLP-1 weight loss nod
8. Vor pays RemeGen $10M for long-acting addition to autoimmune pipeline
9. Kyorin pens $140M deal for Japan rights to Edesa’s phase 3 respiratory drug