China-based startup accelerates expansion in Australia

Pharma News: A biopharmaceutical startup founded in China unveiled another important step in the company’s continued global expansion by opening a new office space situated in Melbourne CBD.

In March 2022, Antengene’s Xpovio (selinexor) was approved by the Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) or triple-refractory R/R MM. In September 2022, Xpovio was included into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of patients with penta-refractory R/R MM.

Dr Jay Mei, Antengene’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, said “Having our product included by the PBS for the first time marks a significant milestone for Antengene and for MM patients in Australia. We are confident that as the first SINE inhibitor included by the PBS for the treatment of patients with R/R MM, Xpovio will offer Australian physicians and patients a novel addition to their existing treatment options. Moving forward, we will strive to develop and commercialise more first-in-class and best-in-class transformational medicines for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”

Merck Healthcare MD talks key trends impacting the equity of access to infertility care

While making steady progress with the commercialisation of Antengene’s lead asset, Xpovio, in Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region, the Australian team continued to grow at a rapid rate to a total of fifteen members in a variety of functions covering Commercial, Finance, Medical Affairs, Clinical and Business Development. The Melbourne office will enable closer collaborations with teams in other APAC markets and provide the extra space needed to support the team’s continued expansion.

At present, Antengene is conducting 4 clinical trials in Australia with the company’s four drug candidates, including ATG-018, ATG-101, ATG-037, and ATG-017, exploring these novel agents in a range of solid tumours and haematological malignancies.

It is worth noting that ATG-037 is the first oral available, small molecule CD73 inhibitor entering clinical development in China and the wider Asia Pacific region. ATG-101, the first PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody approved to enter clinical stage in Australia, is currently being evaluated in clinical setting in Australia, China, and the US.