Roche extended its China shopping spree with a $1 billion-plus obesity deal. Asahi Kasei's Hovilpri became the first herpes simplex virus drug with a novel mechanism approved in nearly three decades. Verastem's China-licensed KRAS G12D inhibitor showed strong early data in pancreatic cancer. And more.
1. Roche inks $1.2B deal with China's Rona to enter emerging ALK7 obesity race
Roche continued its shopping spree in China with a deal potentially worth $1.16 billion for Rona Therapeutics’ ALK7 drug. Targeting ALK7 could theoretically reduce fat deposits while preserving lean body mass, a strategy also being pursued by the likes of Arrowhead, Alnylam, GSK and Novo. Roche has inked multiple deals in China this year, including with Defand Therapeutics last week focused on molecular glue.
2. Asahi Kasei buyout yields novel FDA herpes nod in immunocompromised patients
Asahi Kasei’s pritelivir, obtained from a $920 million acquisition of Bayer spinout AiCurus, has won FDA approval as a new treatment for mucocutaneous lesions caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in immunocompromised patients. To be marketed under the brand name Hovilpri, the first-in-class helicase inhibitor is indicated for those refractory or resistant to nucleoside analog antivirals.
3. Verastem CEO claims RAS drug has 'set a new benchmark' for tricky cancer in early readout
Verastem Oncology’s KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor VS-7375, licensed from China’s GenFleet Therapeutics, showed some strong early clinical data. At 900 mg, the drug triggered confirmed objective response rates of 50% (4/8) in second-line pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients and 36% (5/14) in third- and fourth-line patients. Verastem CEO Dan Paterson said the company “set a new benchmark in PDAC” and suggested that “we have a true blockbuster.”
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4. OrbiMed’s largest-ever Asian fund contributes to $3B war chest