Chinese pharma firms led by Kelun are moving fast to develop the next-generation of cytotoxic "warheads," a key component of antibody-drug conjugates, disclosed company executives at conference in Suzhou.

CSPC Pharmaceutical's SYS6006 has gained an emergency use authorization in China less than one year after entering clinical trials, becoming the first mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 to be approved in the country.

Allorion's key innovative attractions include discovery platforms for allosteric inhibitor screening and the discovery of synthetic lethality targets/molecules, along with a small but growing pipeline of novel assets. Founded in 2020, the China- and US-based biotech has now raised more than $100m in three financing deals, including a $50m series B.

Plus deals involving Ono/PeptiDream, Onconic/Livzon, Teijin/Novartis, Eisai/Biogen, Abbisko/Allist, Daewoong/M8, GC Biopharma/Catalyst and KYM Biosciences/AstraZeneca.

Chinese pharma companies are continuing to pile into the already overcrowded domestic anti-PD-1/L1 sector in China, but despite the competition and regulatory tightening, the latecomers are looking for opportunities in areas such as cervical and small cell lung cancer with relatively fewer contenders.

Sino Biopharm's $161m all-cash acquisition of F-star has finally closed amid heightening US-China tensions and following completion the Chinese firm, through its UK subsidiary invoX, plans to expand its operations and presence at F-star’s UK headquarters.