Astellas Pharma will close its stem cell treatment facility. GSK is pushing its ADC in partnership with Hansoh Pharma into multiple Phase 3 trials. Daiichi Sankyo will sell its consumer health business unit for approximately $1.55 billion. moreover.
1. Astellas Pharma to close Seattle base of stem cell division, plans to reduce workforce
Astellas Pharma has decided to close its stem cell therapy division’s Seattle location as part of a broader effort to integrate cell and gene therapy and oncology research. Approximately 55 employees are expected to be affected and the closure is expected to take two years, with final closure expected by April 2028. The company acquired the site in 2018 through a $102.5 million deal with Universal Sells.
2. GSK CEO’s ‘scientific courage’ propels medley plans for Phase 3 trial of ADC in partnership with Hansoh
Dr. Hesham Abdullah, head of oncology research and development at GSK, said GSK plans to initiate five Phase 3 trials in the coming months for the B7-H4 antibody drug conjugate mocertatag rezetecan, in collaboration with Hanso Pharma. The decision comes after GSK announced an overall response rate of 62% for the highest dose of the drug in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a Phase 1b trial.
3. In industry’s latest OTC strategy, Daiichi Sankyo plans to sell $1.5 billion in consumer health products to beverage giant Suntory
Daiichi Sankyo has agreed to sell its consumer health subsidiary to Japanese beverage giant Suntory Holdings. The transaction is scheduled to be executed in several installments over approximately three years and has a total value of 246.5 billion yen (approximately $1.55 billion). The first will focus on its innovative pharmaceutical franchise, “particularly its oncology business,” it said.
4. Takeda ends mRNA research agreement with Japanese drug discovery expert
Takeda has ended its partnership with Veritas in Silico, which originally began in 2023 to discover small molecules that target the mRNA of genetically defined diseases. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. A Takeda spokesperson said the deal had been terminated “amicably.”
5. AbbVie signs $745 million deal with Chinese biotech Haisco for two acute pain assets
AbbVie has agreed to pay $30 million upfront for the rights outside China to Hysco Pharmaceutical’s two non-opioid painkiller candidates. The deal includes a $715 million milestone and includes two NaV1.8 inhibitors as potential rivals to Vertex’s Journavx. One candidate is an intravenous drug currently in Phase 1 development, and the other is a preclinical oral drug.
6. China’s Olycell raises $110 million for cancer CAR-T program ahead of IPO push
Oricell Therapeutics has raised more than $110 million in a pre-IPO funding round co-led by Vivo Capital, state-owned Beijing Medical Healthcare Industry Investment Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, and “a world-leading healthcare fund.” Proceeds will be used to accelerate the company’s global expansion and clinical development, among other things.
Other notable news:
7. Astellas’ manufacturing chief sees reliable supply, translational research as the ‘north star’ of production
8. ‘Non-existent or trivial’ effects: anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drug brought into question again
9. Kailera outlines $528.5 million IPO plan to back four Chinese obese assets
10. Aligos sells Chinese rights to HBV treatment to liver disease drug giant Xiamen Top in $445 million deal
11. Former chairman of China’s NMPA formally indicted on bribery charges (China Daily)
