After a PD-1 collaboration with Eli Lilly, Innovent Biologics has formed another oncology alliance with Sanofi in China. Astellas named former AstraZeneca oncology exec Tadaaki Taniguchi as its new chief medical officer. AbbVie has tapped Sosei Heptares to develop drugs against neurological disorders. And more.
1. Looking east, Sanofi pens 'pioneering' cancer drug partnership with China's Innovent
Sanofi is making a 300 million euro investment in Innovent Biologics as part of an oncology partnership in China. The two companies will collaborate on two Sanofi assets: a CEACAM5-targeted antibody-drug conjugate that’s being studied in non-small cell lung cancer and a recombinant IL-2 drug for a range of solid tumors. Both drugs will be studied in combination with Innovent and Eli Lilly’s recently FDA-rejected PD-1 inhibitor Tyvyt.
2. Astellas hires ex-AstraZeneca oncology exec Taniguchi as new medical chief (release)
Astellas named Tadaaki Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D., as its new chief medical officer, starting Oct. 1, to replace company veteran Bernhardt Zeiher, M.D., who will retire. Taniguchi previously served over seven years with AstraZeneca in various capacities, most recently as senior vice president and head of oncology business unit Asia strategy, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Following an inflammatory disease pact, AbbVie is expanding its partnership with Sosei Heptares. The Japanese pharma got $40 million up front and could collect up to $1.2 billion in milestones to work with the Big Pharma on neurological diseases. The deal centers on Sosei’s GPCR-targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug design capabilities, which has attracted multiple large drugmakers.
4. In GSK trade secrets case, appeals court backs short sentences against prosecutors' wishes
A U.S. appeals court has maintained previous sentences for former GSK researchers Yu Xue and Tao Li for their role in a trade secret theft case. The two ex-GSK employees will be free under time served, though prosecutors had asked for harsher sentences. The pair previously pled guilty to stealing confidential information from the Big Pharma.
5. BeiGene co-founder’s aging disease biotech snags $200M financing
Sironax, A Chinese biotech co-founded by BeiGene co-founder Xiaodong Wang, raised $200 million in a series B round led by Gaorong Capital and Yunfeng Capital. The company is focused on age-related degenerative diseases. Notable investors also include Temasek, F-Prime Capital and Arch Venture Partners, among others. Sironax plans to use the money to support clinical development of RIPK1 inhibitors.
6. Mitsubishi Tanabe models economic impact of IV-to-oral switch
Researchers at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and RTI Health Solutions did a review of existing evaluations of the economic impact of oral drugs over their intravenous formulations. Models used in such analyses need to be accompanied with clear descriptions on rationales for their assumptions, the researchers wrote.