Astellas will close a stem cell therapy site. GSK is pushing a Hansoh Pharma-partnered ADC into multiple phase 3 trials. Daiichi Sankyo is selling its consumer health business unit for about $1.55 billion. And more.
1. Astellas to close stem cell unit’s Seattle site, with layoffs incoming
As part of a wider move to consolidate its cell and gene therapy and oncology research, Astellas has decided to close a Seattle site for its stem cell therapy unit. About 55 employees will be impacted, and the shutdown will take two years, with the final closure expected by April 2028. The company acquired the site through its $102.5 million deal for Universal Cells in 2018.
2. GSK CEO’s ‘scientific courage’ propels plans for medley of phase 3 trials for Hansoh-partnered ADC
GSK plans to launch five phase 3 trials over the next few months for its Hansoh Pharma-partnered B7-H4 antibody-drug conjugate mocertatug rezetecan, GSK’s oncology R&D chief Hesham Abudllah, M.D., said. The decision comes as GSK unveiled a 62% overall response rate for the highest dose of the drug in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a phase 1b study.
3. In industry’s latest OTC pivot, Daiichi Sankyo lines up $1.5B consumer health unit sale to beverage giant Suntory
Daiichi Sankyo has agreed to sell its consumer health subsidiary to Japanese beverage giant Suntory Holdings. The deal, to be executed in several tranches over about three years, is valued at 246.5 billion Japanese yen (about $1.55 billion). Daiichi said it will focus on its innovative medicines franchise, “particularly the oncology business.”
4. Takeda terminates mRNA research pact with Japanese drug discovery specialist
Takeda has ended a partnership with Veritas In Silico, which originally began in 2023 to discover small molecules that target mRNA for genetically-defined diseases. The financial terms of the deal were not made public. The deal has been called off “amicably,” according to a Takeda spokesperson.
5. AbbVie inks $745M deal with Chinese biotech Haisco for two acute pain assets
AbbVie has agreed to pay $30 million upfront for ex-China rights to two non-opioid pain management candidates from Haisco Pharmaceutical. The deal, which features $715 million in milestones, involves 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 med.
6. China’s Oricell raises $110M for carcinoma CAR-T plans ahead of IPO push
Oricell Therapeutics has raised over $110 million in a pre-IPO financing round co-led by Vivo Capital, state-owned Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund, Qiming Venture Partners and a “leading global healthcare fund.” The proceeds would be used to accelerate the company’s global expansion and clinical development, among other needs.
Other News of Note:
7. Astellas manufacturing chief views reliable supply, bridging research as his production ‘north star’
8. ‘Absent or trivial’ effects: Anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs called into question once again
9. Kailera outlines plans for $528.5M IPO to support quartet of Chinese obesity assets
10. Aligos sells China rights to HBV drug to hepatology player Amoytop in $445M deal
11. Former head of China’s NMPA officially indicted on bribery charges (China Daily)
