China’s CANbridge Pharmaceuticals has expanded its alliance with WuXi Biologics for the discovery, development and commercialisation of four additional drug candidates to potentially treat rare genetic chronic diseases.

As per the agreement, CANbridge holds exclusive regional or global rights to these drug candidates. In turn, WuXi Biologics will receive upfront and milestone payments as well as royalties.

WuXi Biologics will act as the exclusive clinical and primary commercial supplier for all the programmes.

CANbridge Pharmaceuticals founder, chairman and CEO James Xue said: "With this expansion of our partnership with WuXi Biologics, CANbridge continues to broaden our presence in rare disease, with a goal of bringing to the market treatments that are developed in China.

"These four new drug candidates target important rare disease indications for which there are either no available treatments in China or treatments with poor outcomes.

"These candidates are next-generation therapies directed at medically-validated biological targets."

"With this expansion of our partnership with WuXi Biologics, CANbridge continues to broaden our presence in rare disease, with a goal of bringing to the market treatments that are developed in China."

CANbridge and WuXi Biologics initially partnered in October last year to develop and commercialise a range of biotherapeutics targeting rare diseases.

The partnership combines CANbridge’s clinical, regulatory and commercial expertise with WuXi’s drug discovery, development and manufacturing capabilities.

First investigational New Drug (IND) application for the lead rare disease candidate from this programme is expected to be submitted later this year in China.

In the future, the partners also intend to develop the therapeutics on a global basis.

WuXi Biologics CEO Chris Chen added: "This expanding partnership further validates our world-class technology platforms and capabilities.

"Improving the availability of biologics for rare disease aligns with our mission of accelerating and transforming how biologics are developed and manufactured worldwide."

Register as Visitor to CPhI China 2019!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Note:

To apply for becoming a contributor of En-CPhI.cn,

welcome to send your CV and sample works to us,

Email: Julia.Zhang@ubmsinoexpo.com.