French pharma-cosmetic company Pierre Fabre has acquired the rights from Scorpion Therapeutics for two epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in Europe and China. Pierre Fabre will pay $65 million upfront and up to $553 million in milestones, plus royalties for the two candidates, described by Boston, Massachusetts-based Scorpion as highly selective mutant EGFR inhibitors aimed at treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Scorpion will retain commercialization rights to STX-721 and STX-241 in the US, Canada, and Japan, while Pierre…

China is planning to prohibit any export from biotech companies engaged in certain pioneering cell and gene editing technologies. The proposed ban affects companies developing cell cloning and gene editing technology for human use, along with restrictions on the export of CRISPR gene editing technology and synthetic biology technology. Officially, the ban is in limbo during a public comment phase, though the edict will probably not change significantly. The proposed China export ban follows the 2022 US CHIPS and Science…

GenScript ProBio of Nanjing, a biologics CDMO with operations around the globe, has raised $224 million in a C round funding. ProBio offers end-to-end contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services from drug discovery to commercialization for antibodies, cell and gene therapies. The company said it would use the capital to increase manufacturing capacity, advance its R&D offerings and acquire companies that add services. After the funding, GenScript Biotech, a gene synthesis company, will continue to own 70% of ProBio,…

WuXi Biologics has out-licensed global rights for up to four preclinical bi- and multi-specific TCE antibodies to GSK in a $1.5 billion agreement. TCEs are antibody-based immunotherapies that redirect T cells to kill cancer cells. Initially, GSK will have the rights to a preclinical bispecific antibody that crosslinks tumor cells and T cells by targeting a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on tumor cells and CD3 expression on T cells. GSK may exercise rights for up to three additional earlier-stage preclinical TCE antibodies.…

Wuhan Neurophth has announced a $140 million agreement to use Cyagen’s AI platform to discover novel AAV vectors. Cyagen is a Santa Clara, California gene therapy contract research organization (CRO) with offices in China and Japan that offers genetically modified rodent models. Neurophth is developing gene therapies for ophthalmology indications. The company’s lead drug recently started a Phase III trial for ND4-mediated Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (ND4-LHON) with plans to conduct trials of the drug in China and the US.…

Shanghai JW Therapeutics will partner with Boston’s 2seventy bio to use 2seventy’s cell therapy platform to develop T cell-based immunotherapies for Greater China. The collaboration will focus initially on 2seventy bio’s MAGE-A4 TCR program in solid tumors. JW will be responsible for development, manufacturing, and commercialization within China. 2seventy bio will receive milestones and royalty payments on revenues in China, and 2seventy may use JW’s clinical data to support ex-China development. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. JW…