Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.

Takeda's long-time R&D chief Andy Plump will retire. Daiichi Sankyo beat back a $1.3 billion damage claim in a lawsuit. Samsung Biologics signed a $262 million contract with an unnamed client. And more. 1. Takeda’s long-serving R&D chief Andy Plump to retire in wake of pipeline successes Takeda’s R&D chief, Andy Plump, M.D., Ph.D., will retire from the company in June 2027. After joining the Japanese drugmaker in 2015, Plump led an R&D transformation that elevated the company’s pipeline to more closely resemble those at other large pharmas. In a statement, CEO Julie Kim praised Plump for “creating a lasting foundation.” 2. Daiichi Sankyo wins $1.3B Tokyo court case tied to legacy Ranbaxy dispute (release, PDF) A Tokyo court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Northern TK Venture, a unit of Malaysia’s IHH Healthcare, which sought 203 billion Japanese yen ($1.3 billion) in damages. The case was tied to Daiichi’s legacy dispute around its 2008 acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories. While enforcing an award from a fraud case against Ranbaxy’s previous owners, Daiichi intervened in a proposed acquisition of India’s Fortis Healthcare by NTK. 3. Samsung Bio, waiting to break into peptides, nets $262M manufacturing deal with unnamed EU pharma Samsung Biologics has signed a new biologics contract, worth $262 million, with an unnamed European pharma company. The deal runs through the end of 2033, with production to take place at the CDMO’s sprawling campus in Songdo, South Korea. The deal brings Samsung Bio’s total value of contracts to above $21.9 billion, the company said. 4. Solstice rises with $225M series A to advance next-gen CTLA-4 immunotherapy into phase 2 Solstice Oncology has secured $225 million in series A to advance a next-generation CTLA-4 antibody licensed from China’s Harbour BioMed. The company paid $105 million up front for ex-China rights to the drug, called porustobart, and has moved into phase 2 development for microsatellite stable colon cancer, a cold tumor. The financing round was led by RA Capital Management. 5. Menarini signs $771M deal to take Gan & Lee GLP-1 to European market 6. Insilico’s co-CEO has big hopes that fibrosis drug can reverse aging too (The Wall Street Journal) 7. Daiichi unit American Regent recalls 3 epinephrine batches on particulate, leakage concerns

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Leqselvi (deuruxolitinib), made by Sun Pharma UK, as a treatment for severe alopecia areata in adults . Alopecia areata is a condition where the body’s own immune system attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation that leads to hair loss on the scalp, face and/or other parts of the body. The treatment reduces the activity of enzymes called JAK1, JAK2 and TYK2 relative to JAK3 kinases, which are involved in the inflammation of the hair follicles. This then reduces the inflammation, leading to hair regrowth. Leqselvi, which can only be obtained with a prescription, was evaluated in two clinical trials. The trials involved 1,223 adult patients with alopecia areata who had lost at least 50% of their hair for more than six months. Participants received either Leqselvi 8mg, deuruxolitinib 12mg or a placebo for 24 weeks. after which the patients receiving Leqselvi scored higher on a scale used to measure scalp hair than those who received the placebo. Around 30% of patients experienced 80% or more scalp hair after 24 weeks of treatment, and around 23% experienced 90% or more scalp hair after 24 weeks of treatment. Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access, said: “This approval gives adults with alopecia areata another potential treatment option to help manage their condition. “As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of deuruxolitinib under close review.”

New Delhi: Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday cleared Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd's proposed acquisition of a stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, subject to voluntary modifications offered by the companies. The development came after Torrent Pharmaceuticals in June this year announced the acquisition of a majority stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals in a Rs 19,500-crore deal. "The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of shareholding by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd (acquirer) in JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (target) and the subsequent amalgamation of the target with the acquirer," the regulator said in a release. After the completion of the deal, Torrent Pharmaceuticals will become India's second most valued pharma company. "The Commission approved the proposed combination subject to compliance with voluntary modifications offered by the parties (Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd and JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd)," it added. Torrent Pharmaceuticals is the flagship company of the Torrent group and is engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical formulations (FDFs) across therapeutic segments. JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals is involved in the business of manufacturing and marketing a diverse range of FDFs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and also provides contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) services. "Commission approves acquisition of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd with voluntary modifications," the competition watchdog said in a post on X. In June, Torrent said it will acquire a 46.39 per cent stake from promoters Tau Investment Holdings Pte Ltd, an affiliate of global investment firm KKR, for about Rs 11,917 crore. It would additionally buy another 2.80 per cent from certain employees of JB Chemicals for around Rs 719 crore. Post this, it would make an open offer for buying 26 per cent stake as per Sebi's listing norms, totalling Rs 6,842.8 crore. This will be the second biggest deal in the pharma sector ever, behind Sun Pharmaceutical Industries' 2015 acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories. Post share purchase, JB Pharma will merge into Torrent. In 2020, KKR bought a 65 per cent stake in JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals. In March this year, KKR divested a 5.8 per cent stake in JB Pharma for Rs 1,460 crore through open market transactions. Torrent Pharma , with annual revenues of more than Rs 11,500 crore, is the flagship company of the Torrent Group, with group revenues of Rs 45,000 crore. In April 2014, Sun Pharma announced it would acquire troubled rival Ranbaxy in an all-stock transaction worth USD 4 billion that includes USD 800 million in debt. The merger was 'consummated' following receipt of requisite approvals a year later in March 2015. In another big deal, Mankind Pharma last year completed the transaction to acquire Bharat Serums and Vaccines for a consideration of Rs 13,768 crore.