Biotech is determining which of its mid-stage FXR candidates – MET409 and MET642 – will offer the best overall profile to take into Phase IIb. It is also studying ‘409 in combination with Jardiance and will test the FXR class in inflammatory bowel disease.

Partners will share development and commercial rights to up to three ISAC products for cancer. Wockhardt licenses China rights for novel antibiotic to Jiangsu Jemincare.

Japan’s Nippon Chemiphar has reported a year-on-year increase in generics sales and net revenues in the first quarter of FY21, after seeing back-to-back underwhelming quarters due to reasons such as recent National Health Insurance drug price revisions, as well as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The generics industry struggled with the prior-year comparison as it saw an expected decline in revenues in the first quarter of 2021, driven by the global impact of the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, the performance of most companies fell short of the numbers reported in Q1 2020. However, a few managed to contradict the trend by reporting growth, either based on the launch of COVID-related drugs or performance in specific geographies.