Akeso

Akeso Biopharma enrolls first patient in Phase III trial (AK117-302) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, evaluating PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab with CD47 monoclonal antibody ligufalimab against pembrolizumab. The trial marks a global first for CD47 monoclonal antibody therapy in solid tumors and highlights Akeso's commitment to advancing cancer immunotherapy.

Global exosome market to grow at ~20% CAGR by 2030, driven by chronic disease incidence, diagnostic improvements, and personalized medicine interest. North America leads, with key players like Danaher and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Notable developments include Aruna Bio's US patent for neural exosomes and EXO Biologics' EUR 16 million Series A funding.

Pfizer's earnings beat expectations amid Starboard criticism; Novartis delays submission for MorphoSys drug; Biogen appoints new chief medical officer; VCs use U.S. startups to hedge bets on Chinese drugs; GSK acquires autoimmune drug candidate; key figures in cancer vaccine development; Medicare's drug price negotiations explained.

Ottimo Pharma, backed by Medicxi and led by David Epstein, develops a bi-functional antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGFR2 to enhance cancer immunotherapy, aiming for clinical trials in 2025.

The ADC market, driven by technological advancements and personalized medicine, is expected to reach ~USD 26 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of ~14%. North America leads due to high cancer incidence and strong biopharmaceutical sector. Key players include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED, and Pfizer Inc. The market is dynamic, influenced by regulatory frameworks and innovation in linker technologies and payloads.

Pfizer pays Triana Biomedicines $49M for molecular glue degrader research; Tim Buckley joins Pfizer's board amid Starboard Value pressure; Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Zepzelca and Roche's Tecentriq combo outperforms Tecentriq alone in small cell lung cancer; MeiraGTx's Parkinson's gene therapy shows promise in small trial; Akeso raises $250M for global antibody drug trials; Inventiva gets $100M funding with Mark Pruzanski as chairman.

Akeso Biopharma raised $250 million USD, primarily from long-term and healthcare funds, to accelerate global clinical development of its innovative drugs, focusing on core products in China and international markets.

Scholar Rock's experimental SMA drug shows muscle function improvement in Phase 3 trial, paving way for regulatory approval. STAT highlights 12 influential figures in Chinese biopharma. Progeria advocate Sammy Basso, 28, dies from complications, leaving a legacy of resilience and scientific impact. Exact Sciences' Cologuard Plus receives FDA approval for colon cancer screening. Rwanda begins clinical trials for Marburg virus vaccine and therapeutics.

Bob Duggan's experimental cancer drug, ivonescimab, outperformed Keytruda in trials, boosting Summit Therapeutics' stock 700% and his net worth to $16 billion. The drug, now in 18 cancer trials, halved disease progression risk in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.