Astellas Pharma’s CEO briefed Fiers on the company’s new five-year plan. Takeda’s candidate wins direct psoriasis trial against Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Sotiktu. RA Capital provides China capabilities to its portfolio companies through a year-long initiative. moreover.
1. ‘It’s not just about cutting costs’: Inside Astellas CEO’s five-year strategy to combat Xtandy’s patent cliff
In an interview with Fierce, Astellas CEO Naoki Okamura detailed the company’s 200 billion yen ($1.3 billion) cost-cutting program in its new five-year plan. He said the new blueprint relies heavily on internalizing core research and development capabilities, embracing new technology and centralizing scattered functions to transform Astellas into a flatter organization, “beyond just saving costs and reducing headcount.”
2. Takeda’s TYK2 inhibitor defeats Bristol-Myers’ Sotiktu in Phase 3 psoriasis showdown
A phase 3 head-to-head clinical trial showed that Takeda’s TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib was better than Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Sotikutu in clearing the skin of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Takeda reported that “more than 35%” of patients achieved PASI 100 (complete skin clearance) at 16 weeks on zasotitinib, which was “more than 2.5 times” the response rate for Sotiktu. The study also met all key secondary endpoints, the Japanese drugmaker said.
3. How RA Capital brings “Chinese clinical expertise in one box” to its biotechs
About a year ago, RA Capital launched Swiftbridge, a program aimed at helping early-stage portfolio companies access China’s clinical trial infrastructure. The effort has since expanded to include capabilities such as business development and early-stage discovery project management.
4. Wuxi AppTec appears on Pentagon blacklist and faces biosecure ban
The Department of Defense has added Wuxi AppTec to its newly updated list of “Chinese military companies.” It says it supports the Chinese military while maintaining business ties with the United States. Inclusion on the so-called 1260H list makes Wuxi AppTec one of the “biotechnology companies of concern” subject to crackdowns under the BioSecure Act. The major CDMO said its inclusion on the list was “clearly a mistake.”
5. Takeda Pharmaceutical takes legal liability of $2.5 billion after receiving late payment judgment, and will be in the red in 2025
Takeda plans to appeal after a federal jury in Boston found the Japanese drugmaker liable in a class action suit for late damages, but the company booked approximately $2.5 billion in legal costs in its 2025 fiscal year earnings. As a result of this provision, Takeda revised its reported profit from a net profit of 192 billion yen to a loss of 152 billion yen.
Other notable news:
6. XtalPi signs $400 million anti-GPCR deal with unnamed multinational pharmaceutical company (Release, PDF)
7. Laekna out-licenses PI3K inhibitor to US startup Vasque Bio (Release, PDF)
