Luqi Biologics Secures Over RMB 100 Million in Series B Funding to Advance Inhaled Nanobody Therapeutics; Novel Antibiotic Discovered in Human Nose

Dec 21, 2023 19:57 CST Updated 19:58

Novamab

Nanobody Innovative Drug Developer

1. Novamab Completes Over 100 Million Yuan in B-Round Financing for Phase II Clinical Trials of Two Inhaled Antibody Drugs

On December 21, 2023, Shanghai Novamab Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. successfully completed a Series B financing round of over RMB 100 million. This round was led by Shanghai Shengdi Private Fund Management Co., Ltd., with existing shareholder Chengdu BioCity Fund (Guosheng Capital) increasing its investment. Oriental Gaosheng and Bank of Communications International served as financial advisors for this round, and the Series B+ round is currently underway. The funds from this round will be used for Phase II clinical research of two inhaled antibody drugs (LQ036, LQ043) independently developed by the company based on its "Inhaled Large Molecule Drug Development Platform," and to further expand the team and replenish corporate working capital.

2. Pharmaceutical company Calliditas Therapeutics announces full FDA approval for IgA nephropathy drug Budesonide Delayed-Release Capsules (Tarpeyo)

On December 20, 2023, Calliditas Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company, announced that its delayed-release budesonide capsules (brand name: Tarpeyo, Nefecon) received full FDA approval to reduce the risk of kidney function loss in adult patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) as the disease progresses. Tarpeyo is currently the first IgAN treatment drug to receive full FDA approval based on renal function measurement. Based on proteinuria surrogate markers, Tarpeyo initially received accelerated FDA approval in December 2021. Everest Medicines holds its rights in China. This approval is based on data from the study codenamed NefIgArd, a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial (n=364), designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral Nefecon (16mg, once daily) versus placebo in adult patients with primary IgA nephropathy. The results showed that during the 15-month follow-up period, UPCR in the Nefecon group continued to decrease; eGFR significantly improved compared to the placebo group, and this effect was sustained for two years.

3. Unknown Gentlemen's FMT Drug XBI-302 Receives Feedback from U.S. FDA to Enter Phase II Clinical Trials

Unknown Bio announces that its FMT drug, code-named XBI-302, has received feedback from the U.S. FDA on its EOP1 application and can officially enter Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD). Public information shows that every pipeline progress of XBI-302 has created a milestone in China's microbiome pharmaceuticals field. According to public information*, in 2021, XBI-302 became the first FMT drug from a Chinese microbiome pharmaceutical company to obtain its clinical trial approval; this time, XBI-302 being approved to enter Phase II clinical trials has once again become an industry event of the year.

4. New Antibiotic Substance Discovered in Human Nose

Researchers at the University of Tübingen in Germany have discovered a new antibiotic substance in human noses that can be used to combat pathogens. The molecule, named epifadin, is produced by specific strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. They classified epifadin as a previously unknown novel class of antimicrobial compounds, which can kill microorganisms and serve as a lead structure for developing new antibiotics. The research paper was published in the December 18 issue of *Nature Microbiology*.

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