Sanofi unveiled a plan to build a $1 billion manufacturing site in Beijing while completing construction at a plant in Singapore. GSK inked an antibody-drug conjugate deal with DualityBio and, through a revised agreement with Zhifei, dialed down its expectations for Shingrix in China for the next few years. And more.
In Sanofi’s largest recorded investment in China, the French pharma is investing 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) to build a new manufacturing base in Beijing’s Economic-Technological Development Zone. The new production site, which will become Sanofi’s fourth in China, is designed to boost the company’s insulin production.
2. Sanofi opens $590M modular vaccine, biologics plant in Singapore
Sanofi has opened a Modulus vaccine and biologics plant in Singapore. The plant, erected with an investment of 558 million euros ($592 million), is located in the Tuas Biomedical Park. Sanofi’s Modulus plants can be reconfigured within days during a pandemic. The site will be operational by mid-2026 and will employ about 200 people.
3. GSK goes East again, snagging option on preclinical DualityBio ADC for $30M
GSK has once again reached out to a Chinese company to beef up its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pipeline. Duality Biologics, which is already a partner with BioNTech, is giving GSK an option to obtain ex-China rights to a candidate coded DB-1324 in return for $30 million in upfront and pre-option milestone payments. DualityBio said the med is a potential best-in-class ADC against a gastrointestinal cancer target.
4. GSK cuts Shingrix deliveries in revised Zhifei China pact, moves closer to RSV vaccine deal
Meanwhile, GSK is paring back its expectations for the shingles vaccine Shingrix in China. While the company extended a three-year distribution partnership with Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products to cover 11 years, the new pact will see GSK's partner purchase altogether 21.6 billion yuan ($2.97 billion) worth of Shingrix over six years. Originally, Zhifei was expected to purchase a minimum of 20.6 billion yuan worth of the shot in just three years.
5. With AstraZeneca exec under investigation in China, company names Reic new international chief
With Leon Wang on “extended leave” while under investigation in China, AstraZeneca has named Iskra Reic, Ph.D., as its new international chief. Reic was most recently head of AZ’s vaccines and immune therapies unit and has prior experience leading AZ’s European business. Michael Lai, general manager of AZ China, is moving to a global position overseeing lung cancer and Daiichi Sankyo-partnered ADC Dato-DXd, according to Chinese media reports.
China is adding 91 drugs to its national insurance program effective at the start of 2025. AstraZeneca’s Daiichi Sankyo-partnered ADC Enhertu and Roche’s diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ADC Polivy are among the new entrants, whereas Gilead Sciences' TROP2 ADC Trodelvy wasn't able to secure inclusion.
7. Takeda pays Keros $200M upfront for rival to BMS' booming blockbuster Reblozyl
Takeda put down $200 million upfront for ex-China rights to Keros Therapeutics’ activin inhibitor elritercept, which is being developed to treat anemia in myelodysplastic syndromes and myelofibrosis. If everything pans out, Keros can claim up to $1.1 billion in milestones. The asset is nearing phase 3 testing and could compete with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Reblozyl.
Other News of Note:
8. Novartis' latest attempt to fend off MSN's Entresto generic falls short on appeal
9. Kelun's Merck-partnered ADC snags first nod in China to kick off TROP2 fight with Gilead
10. Mitsubishi Tanabe inks $480M biobucks pact with Dewpoint for preclinical ALS program
11. India's Lupin recalls more than 600K bottles of blood pressure med over questionable API source
12. CRO and clinical trial markets set for growth by 2030, especially in Asia-Pacific region: reports
13. GE HealthCare to take over Japanese radiopharmaceutical venture
15. Relay passes baton to Elevar, handing off NDA-ready rare cancer asset for up to $500M
16. China's HanxBio plans Hong Kong IPO to fund phase 2 solid tumor trial
17. Sumitomo brings together Gemtesa 'Go-Getters' to discuss overactive bladder symptoms