Weekly in Asia｜Dec

20191202-1208

Japan’s Astellas to Acquire Audentes for $3 Billion

Gene therapies are one of the emerging areas in drug research globally. Japan’s Astellas Pharma Inc is now buying U.S. drugmaker Audentes Therapeutics Inc. for $3 billion in cash, marking it as one of the biggest deals of this years’ mergers and acquisitions events.

As for the deal, genetic regulation will become the primary focus for the company, on top of its already existing immuno-oncology, regeneration and immunotherapy business lines.

About Astellas Pharma

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a Japanese pharmaceutical company formed in 2005 from the merger of Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

About Audentes Therapeutics Inc.

Audentes Therapeutics operates as a biotechnology company that focuses on the development and commercialization of gene therapy treatments for people with serious rare diseases.

Novotech and North Asia-Based PPC Partners to Create Region’s Largest Biotech CRO Platform

The major factors propelling the growth of the global biotechnology market include the increasing prevalence of diseases, the high R&D spending, and the high demand for clinical trials in emerging markets.

Novotech and Protech Pharmaservices Corporation (PPC), two leading Asia-Pacific contract research organizations (CROs), announced on December 4th that the two entities have formed the largest biotech specialist CRO platform in the Asia-Pacific area in order to meet the growing demand for clinical trials in the region.

Under the partnership, the companies will share an integrated governance structure as well as aligned systems and processes.

About Novotech

Novotech Pty Ltd. operates as a contract research organization. The Company offers audits, biostatistics, clinical trials, commercialization, data management, generics, health economics, medical writing, regulatory affairs, and drug development services.

About Protech Pharmaservices Corporation (PPC)

PPC, founded in 1997 , is an Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization (CRO) that offers a broad range of clinical research services, e.g. regulatory affairs, medical affairs, medical writing, clinical monitoring, project management, data management, biostatistics and pharmacovigilance.

Dong-A ST and Beactica Collaborate to Develop New Cancer Therapeutics

Dong-A ST Co., Ltd., a Korean pharmaceutical company, and Beactica Therapeutics AB, a Swedish drug discovery company, announced on December 4th that a lead compound has been selected in their collaborative research program aimed at developing first-in-class inhibitors for cancer and other diseases.

The transition provides Dong-A ST with exclusive global rights for further development and commercialization of products based on, or derived from, the lead compound. In return, Beactica receives milestone payment and is eligible to further payments for certain preclinical, clinical and regulatory milestones as well as royalties on commercial sales of the products. Beactica is also entitled to a revenue share from any related future licensing activities. Full financial details remain undisclosed.

About Dong-A ST Co Ltd

Dong-A ST Co., Ltd. manufactures pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, AIDS diagnostic kit, chemotherapeutic, nutrition and health drinks, etc.

About Beactica Therapeutics AB

Beactica Therapeutics AB is a drug discovery company that develops small molecule drugs, offer expertise & services in the area of SPR biosensor-based interaction analysis, and fragment-based lead generation.

The Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan 2019

Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan, the signature expo in the Asia Pacific region, strives to serve as a bridge to assist international companies in entering the Taiwan market was kicked off on Dec 8th. With a total of 1,900 booths coming from 12 countries exhibited. More than 3,500 international attendees participated, including Nobel prize laureates, scholars, overseas venture capitals, international industry association delegations, and overseas hospital directors.

Medical centers and hospitals, Taiwan-based innovative health-technology companies, as well as top international brands, participated in the Expo.

The Expo highlights were, advanced medical technologies, smart and efficient healthcare, new solutions for medical specialties, latest diagnostics, medical equipment, precision health personalized health solutions, genetic testing, health monitoring systems, mobile technologies and health management services.

Hummingbird Bio raises $19M in Series B round

Singapore-based Hummingbird Bioscience, an innovative biotherapeutics company pioneering the discovery and development of new breakthrough precision antibody therapeutics for difficult-to-treat conditions, announced on December 5th that it has raised US$19 million in a Series B financing round, co-led by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and GNTech Venture Capital.

The financing will support the discovery of new disease targets, expanding Hummingbird Bioscience’s pipeline of first and best-in-class antibody therapeutics, as well as fueling the work on the co-discovery projects signed with Amgen in September this year.

To date, Hummingbird Bioscience has secured more than US$60 million in funding through financing activities and strategic partnerships.

About Hummingbird Bioscience

Hummingbird Bioscience is an innovative biotherapeutics company pioneering the discovery and development of new breakthrough precision antibody therapies for difficult-to-treat conditions.

References:

1. https://audentestx.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/astellas-enters-definitive-agreement-acquire-audentes
2. https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/novotech-and-north-asia-based-ppc-announce-strategic-partnership/
3. https://www.beactica.com/news/latest-news
4. https://expo.taiwan-healthcare.org/?Language=English
5. http://www.hummingbirdbioscience.com/en/news-events/hummingbird-bioscience-series-b-financing/

Author

GeneOnline