Recent Articles in Top Stories

JW Therapeutics of Shanghai closed an impressive $90 million Series A financing with the goal of bringing best-in-class immunotherapies to China. JW is a joint venture formed by Seattle's Juno Therapeutics, an important cell therapy biotech, and WuXi AppTec, the China CRO/CMO. The JV will combine Juno's CAR-T therapies with WuXi's China development and manufacturing expertise. Along with the financing, JW reported the CFDA has accepted its IND submission for JWCAR029, a CD19 CAR-T therapy that will be tested in B-cell malignancies. More details....

Share this with colleagues:

Tianjin Tasly Pharma is in talks to IPO its biopharma division in Hong Kong later this year with the goal of raising $1 billion. If it happens, the IPO will probably be Hong Kong's largest biopharma IPO this year. Tasly, known for its TCM offerings, has been actively using M&A to expand into biologics. It has also invested in C-Bridge Capital's funds and sometimes adds, independently, to C-Bridge deals. One year ago, C-Bridge and Tasly joined to invest $150 million in two China biotechs, merging them as part of the transaction. More details....

Stock Symbol: (SHA: 600535)

Share this with colleagues:

Grail, a US spinout from Illumina that is developing blood-based cancer detection tests, is considering a $500 million Hong Kong IPO. Last year, Grail completed a $900 million Series B fundraising, the largest ever. In June, Grail merged with Cirina, a Hong Kong cancer diagnostics company, which was co-founded by Dennis Lo, DM, DPhil, an early scientific leader in the field of molecular diagnostics. Grail is considering Hong Kong for its IPO venue following new HKEX rules that allow companies to IPO even if they aren't profitable and to offer two classes of stock, one with voting rights (for the original owners) and one without. More details....

Stock Symbol: (NSDQ: ILMN)

Share this with colleagues:

Oncologie Inc., a Boston-Shanghai biopharma, in-licensed greater China rights to lefitolimod, an immunoncology candidate developed by Mologen of Berlin. The two companies also plan a global collaboration for lefitolimod, including a biomarker that Oncologie will develop. Oncology will make an initial $3.7 million payment and invest another $2.5 million in Mologen's shares within one year. In addition, Oncology agreed to pay milestones that total over $120 million plus double-digit royalties on any sales. The two companies will share revenues from any sales, based on their contributions. More details....

Stock Symbol: (F: MGN)

Share this with colleagues: