Shionogi says first major US R&D site will enhance capabilities for both Shionogi and its 2023 acquisition Qpex, which prompted the Japanese firm to build on the San Diego company's close research collaborations with US government organizations.

The ranks of B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugates under development in China have seen their first dropout, although elsewhere there are two FGFR2b-directed ADCs with first-in-class potential on the horizon. Meanwhile, there have been other discontinuations of KRAS G12C inhibitors and anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapies in the country, while new players have surfaced in the areas of mRNA cancer vaccines and amyloid-beta-targeting antibodies for Alzheimer’s disease.

Public Company Edition: This year’s newly public companies are trading an average of 9.7% below their IPO prices, including the two most recent debuts, Boundless Bio and Contineum. Also, Nkarta, Praxis and Nurix grossed $240m, $200m and $175m, respectively, in follow-on offerings.

Results showing a 74% reduction in seizures set up Stoke for a pivotal study and could make STK-001 the first disease-modifying agent for the condition.