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Fierce Pharma Asia—Big Pharma's China visit; AstraZeneca's parallel supply chains; WuXi's predicament

2024-03-29

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疫苗临床2期

Big Pharma CEOs' visits to Beijing, AstraZeneca's manufacturing Chinese wall and an allegation against WuXi AppTec made our news this week.

Several Big Pharma CEOs gathered in AstraZenecareaffirm their commitment to the Chinese market. AstraZeWuXi AppTecking to separate its supply chains for the U.S. and China. U.S. intelligence officials reportedly flagged an unauthorized transfer of a customer's data by WuXi AppTec to Chinese authorities. And more.

1. Big Pharma CEOs gather in Beijing to ⁠show continued interest in China, offer policy adviceAstraZeneca WuXi AppTec

Lilly CEO reaffirms commitment to Chinese market amid US threat against local biotechs

LillyEOs of AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, Organon, Abbott Laboratories and Medtronic traveled to Beijing to attend the annual China Development Forum. In addition, Eli Lilly’s CEO met with China’s commerce minister. As the chief executives refreshed their commitment to the Chinese market, some of them also urged the Chinese government to bolster intellectual property protections, improve regulatory review of drugs based on novel technologies and optimize the country’s reimbursement system to cover more innovative therapies.

2. AstraZeneAstraZenecadeBayerntBristol Myers SquibbfoGSKS Novartisa,PfizerayTakeda Organon Abbott Laboratories Medtronic Eli Lilly

AstAstraZeneca reorganizing its supply chain to manufacture drugs for the U.S. and Chinese markets independently from one another, the company’s CEO Pascal Soriot told Bloomberg while in China. During a separate meeting in Beijing organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Soriot reportedly touted AZ’s recent investments in China as part of its global manufacturing footprint.

AstraZenecaence officials warned lawmakers WuXi AppTec furnished China with client's intellectual property: ReutersChinese Ministry of Commerce

A key defense that WuXi AppTec has been usiWuXi AppTecaccusations in the BIOSECURE Act is that the bill’s proposed prohibition based on national security grounds is “preemptive and unjustified.” But before the U.S. Senate’s homeland security committee voted earlier this month to advance a counterpart version of the bill, U.S. intelligence officials had informed senators that WuXi had transferred a U.S. client’s intellectual property to Chinese authorities without the customer’s consent, Reuters reported, citing two sources.

4. WuXi Biologics sWuXi AppTecurse with positive 2024 outlook as national security crackdown threatens business in US

DesWuXi Biologicsng national security-related controversy, WuXi Biologics said it’s well positioned to capture new business opportunities in 2024 as biopharma companies are increasingly outsourcing biologics activities to CDMOs. For 2023, the Chinese CDMO logged an 11.6% year-over-year revenue increase to 17 billion Chinese yuan (about $2.4 billion).

5. Brii goes all in on hepatitis B, punting HIV, depressionWuXi Biologics programs to potential partners

BriBriiosciences is narhepatitis Bfocus on hepatidepression mlung diseaseally, BRII-179, an immunotherapeutic that the Chinese biotech licensed from VBI Vaccines. The drug is currently being tested in two phase 2 trials. While prioritizing resources for the HBV portfolio, Brii is “pursuing partnership opportunities” for other pipeline candidates across multiple disease areas.

Brii Biosciences distribution pacts in Indihepatitis B for CNS drugs and vaccinBRII-179 VBI Vaccines VBI Vaccines Brii

SanSanofis found local partners to help distribute its drugs. The French pharma has entrusted Cipla to market six central nervous system medicines, including epilepsy med Frisium, and has tapped Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to sell certain vaccines, in India. In South Korea, SK Bioscience will sell five Sanofi vaccines in 2024, with the potential for the deal to be extended in the future.

SanofiNews of Note:Cipla epilepsy Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories SK Bioscience Sanofi

7. Olympus mounts lung cancer education push with advocacy group

8. Olympus Sciencelung cancerle Day for epilepsy awareness by highlighting patient support programs

9. SK Life Scienceoduction as FDA warns epilepsyusing plastic syringes from China

10. Nuvation to acquire Sino-AFDAican oncology specialist AnHeart in all-stock deal (release)