Fierce Pharma Asia—BMS, Eisai's ADC split; Takeda's US cuts; House Speaker's BIOSECURE vow

In recent biopharma developments, significant changes have been noted within major pharmaceutical companies and legislative moves in the U.S. Bristol Myers Squibb has decided to terminate its collaboration with Eisai on the FRα-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, farletuzumab ecteribulin (MORAb-202). The collaboration, initiated three years ago, involved a hefty financial investment from Bristol Myers Squibb, including a $460 million upfront payment, $200 million for research and development, and up to $2.5 billion in milestone payments. The termination of this deal means Eisai will now focus on accelerating the development of this potential competitor to AbbVie’s Elahere.

Simultaneously, Takeda is undergoing a restructuring phase, which includes significant layoffs in Massachusetts. The Japanese pharmaceutical giant plans to cut 220 jobs—190 positions at its Cambridge headquarters and another 31 in Lexington, starting in August. This follows a previous round of 641 layoffs that began in early July.

In legislative news, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to bring the BIOSECURE Act to a full vote this year. The act, which targets China-related biopharma activities, is part of a broader agenda of China-targeting bills that Johnson aims to push through in the remaining term of the current Congress.

A survey conducted by L.E.K. Consulting reveals a decline in confidence among U.S.-based life sciences companies in their Chinese partners. Out of the 73 firms surveyed, 26% expressed intentions to reduce or terminate their partnerships with Chinese counterparts, although only 2% have begun this process.

An IQVIA report highlights that China's share of global clinical trials has increased, surpassing Eastern Europe. By the end of 2023, China accounted for 15% of the world's clinical trials, while Eastern Europe’s share dropped to 11%. North America leads with 23% of the global trials, marking a 17% increase from five years ago, while Western Europe holds 25% of the total share.

In clinical advancements, Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech have reported positive outcomes for their CAR-T therapy, Carvykti, in the CARTITUDE-4 trial. The therapy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for multiple myeloma patients compared to standard combination treatments, thus enhancing Carvykti's position over Bristol Myers Squibb’s rival therapy, Abecma.

Ipsen has entered into a significant agreement with China’s Foreseen Biotechnology, acquiring exclusive global rights to a preclinical solid tumor antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate, coded FS001. The deal, worth $1.03 billion, includes a Topo1 inhibitor payload, identified using Foreseen’s AI-powered screening platform.

Samsung Biologics has signed a substantial manufacturing contract with an unnamed U.S. pharmaceutical company. Worth approximately $1.05 billion, this deal constitutes over 39% of Samsung Biologics' total sales from the previous year and will extend through to 2030.

Other notable developments include Elevar and Hengrui's plans for a quick refile of their PD-1 liver cancer combo after an unexpected FDA rejection. Additionally, a China-made injectable PD-L1 drug failed a pivotal trial, prompting its U.S. partner to explore strategic alternatives. In legal news, Daiichi Sankyo has concluded a lengthy ADC patent arbitration with a $47 million win following Pfizer's decision not to appeal. Ensho has emerged with an inflammatory disease portfolio from Eisai’s EA Pharm, and CDMO Lotte has broken ground on a new $3.3 billion production plant in Korea as part of its growth strategy. Rexulti has reclaimed the top spot for TV drug ad spending, with Otsuka and Lundbeck eroding AbbVie’s dominance.