Fierce Pharma Asia—Legend CEO's cell therapy ambitions; Indian pharmas' awkward position; new Hutchmed CEO

After its first commercial launch in Carvykti, Legend Biotech's CEO talked up the rising CAR-T star's cell therapy ambitions. The Indian government's reluctance to take a harsh stance on Russia could backfire for its pharma industry. Hutchmed unveiled a CEO change as the Chinese biotech preps for its first U.S. drug launch. And more.

1. With J&J-partnered CAR-T nod in hand, Legend CEO eyes earlier myeloma use, cheaper cell therapy manufacturing

Legend Biotech and partner Johnson & Johnson are taking a “divide and conquer” approach to the rollout of CAR-T therapy Carvykti, Legend CEO Ying Huang, Ph.D., said. The biotech aims to become a fully integrated global cell therapy leader with capabilities across R&D, manufacturing and commercialization, he said. Part of that plan involves seeking ways to bring down cell therapy manufacturing costs.

2. India's hesitance to condemn Russia puts the country's pharma industry in compromising position

As India’s prime minister Narendra Modi faces pressure from the west to condemn Russia, the country’s pharma companies have found themselves in an awkward position. In the last fiscal year, India exported more than $591 million worth of pharma goods to Russia and $181 million to Ukraine, Business Standard reports.

3. Hutchmed unveils new CEO as longtime CSO takes the reins ahead of first US drug launch

Hutchmed’s longtime CEO Christian Hogg has retired. Chief Scientific Officer Weiguo Su, Ph.D., has taken the reins as the Chinese biotech awaits an FDA decision for surufatinib—approved in China with the brand name Sulanda—in pancreatic and extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The company is prepping for what would be the company’s first U.S. launch, Su said.

4. BeiGene's hematology CMO jumps to steer pipeline changes at Prelude

BeiGene's hematology CMO resigns in wake of solid tumor switch

BeiGene’s hematology chief medical officer, Jane Huang, M.D., has left the company shortly after the departure of its immuno-oncology chief medical officer, Yong Ben, M.D. The Chinese biotech has a key application for BTK inhibitor Brukinsa under FDA review in chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. Huang has taken up the chief medical officer role at Prelude Therapeutics.

5. Shionogi's COVID-19 vaccine matches Pfizer's Comirnaty in booster trial

Shionogi found its COVID-19 vaccine, S-268019, matched up to Comirnaty as a booster shot in people who had already completed a primary two-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The result was drawn from neutralizing antibody levels 29 days after the booster shot in a phase 2/3 trial in Japan.

6. Astellas gets safety win for phase 3 menopause drug, setting up US, EU filings

Astellas’ nonhormonal menopause drug fezolinetant met its key goals of long-term safety and tolerability and improvements in endometrial health at Week 52. The Japanese pharma is combining the new findings with two other phase 3 trials for filings in the U.S. and the EU. Fezolinetant could have market potential of up to $2.3 billion, but it might be hard to get there, Jefferies analysts said.

7. SalubrisBio's bispecific heart failure drug boosted by $32M cash injection

China’s Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals has poured $32 million into its U.S. based offshoot, Salubris Biotherapeutics, to advance its lead candidate JK07, an NRG-1 therapy that’s in phase 1 development as a treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

8. Microbiotica nabs $67M to push 2 microbiome therapies through clinic

The U.K.’s Microbiotica has raised $67 million in a series B round to advance two microbiome-based therapies—one for immuno-oncology and the other for ulcerative colitis. The financing was co-led by China’s tech conglomerate Tencent and Swedish life science investor Flerie.

9. Lonza completes lab expansion at Chinese API production plant

Lonza has completed a small laboratory expansion at its API manufacturing facility in Nansha, China. The project, which grew the footprint of the lab by 250 square meters, included the addition of new analytical and manufacturing equipment.