Beigene has quickly become a force in cancer drug development, earning approvals in the U.S. and China for its targeted therapy Brukinsa and immunotherapy tislelizumab. The biotech is developing a slate of small molecule and antibody drugs aimed at several well-known targets, too.
In late 2019, Amgen agreed to pay nearly $3 billion for a 20% stake in Beigene. Notably, Beigene agreed to help Amgen develop as many as 20 experimental drugs and chip in funding as well, a sign of Amgen’s confidence in the company’s research skills.
So far, all of the drugs Beigene has advanced into clinical testing have been small molecules or antibodies. The Shoreline deal will expand the company’s work to include cell therapy, an area that’s growing quickly to encompass multiple types of treatment and technologies. READ MORE
By Ned Pagliarulo
Source: biopharmadive.com
CureVac and the University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a co-development and licensing agreement to develop novel messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines. The strategic collaboration will focus on the development of differentiated cancer vaccine candidates in selected haematological and solid tumour indications with high unmet medical needs.
FUJIFILM Corporation is planning to invest $1.2 billion to expand the planned FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, US. This news follows the organisation’s announcement of a $2 billion investment in the facility in March 2021. This additional financial boost totals the investment to over $3.2 billion, FUJIFILM confirmed.
Sanofi’s global restructuring and downsizing is now fully underway, with layoffs stretching to the company’s Belgian offices. Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports that 67 employees have been laid off at a site in Ghent and 32 jobs are on the chopping block at Sanofi’s Belgium HQ in Diegem.
