Emerging companies including Bliss Biopharmaceutical, Coherent Biopharma and WestGene Biopharma lifted China biotech funding from May to mid-June.

J&J and Legend’s Carvykti shines at ASCO, while Junshi provides updates on anti-PD-1 antibody toripalimab. Alongside, ADCs from Biokin and BlissBio also step into the spotlight. Guest speaker Leon Tang in the US, Brian Yang in Beijing and Dexter Yan in Shanghai discuss what stood out in this special ASCO-focused episode of their latest Chinese-language podcast. 

The XinThera deal gives Gilead multiple PARP1 and MK2 inhibitors. Also, Roche licenses a HER2 kinase inhibitor from Zion, Amgen partners with TScan in Crohn’s disease and Baxter sells the last of its biopharma operations – a CDMO business – for $4.5bn.

Otsuka's purchase of Neurovance is part of a larger strategy to replace revenues lost to patent expiration of Abilify. Meanwhile, its Japanese counterpart Takeda is overhauling its R&D engine with help from contract manufacturer Bushu.