Recent Developments and Pipeline Highlights of Anji Pharma, AixplorerBio, Domain Therapeutics, VVN Biotech, ArrePath, QurAlis, and GT Apeiron Therapeutics

ShanghaiMay 26, 2022/PR Newswire/ -- Recent updates from Viva Biotech's investment incubation ecosystem:

Anji Pharmaceuticals Successfully Completes Enrollment for ANJ908 Global Phase 2 Clinical Trial;

Baidu PaddleHelix and Soochow Biologics Deepen Cooperation to Develop AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Optimization System;

Domain Therapeutics Completes $42 Million Series A Financing;

VIVAVISION's Dual-Target Mechanism VVN539 for Glaucoma Treatment Officially Submits Phase II Clinical Trial Application in the United States;

ArrePath Announces Appointment of Bret Benton, Ph.D., as Vice President of Microbiology;

QurAlis CEO Dr. Kasper Roet Awarded 2022 Henri Termeer Award;

Pylon Bio Completes $17.5 Million Series A Financing and Establishes New Strategic Partnership with Viva Biotech.

The core department of Viva Biotech's investment incubation and Equity-for-Service (EFS) business -- Viva Biotech Innovation Center -- is committed to becoming an open collaboration platform for the incubation and growth of global innovative biopharmaceutical companies.

Anji Pharmaceuticals Successfully Completes ANJ908Global 2Patient Enrollment in Phase Clinical Trials

On May 20, 2022, Anji Pharma, invested in and incubated by Viva Biotech, announced the successful completion of patient enrollment for the global Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial of its first-in-class innovative drug pradigastat (ANJ908). ANJ908 is a selective diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor intended for the treatment of functional constipation. Anji Pharma plans to release the data and results of this study in the second half of 2022 and initiate a global Phase 3 clinical trial in 2023.

Baidu PaddlePaddle Spiral Propeller and VIVAVISION Forge Deep Collaboration, Committed to Developing AISmall Molecule Drug Discovery and Optimization System Construction

On May 18, AIxplorerBio, invested and incubated by Viva Biotech, announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Baidu's PaddleHelix bio-computing platform. Both parties will combine their respective strengths to deepen collaboration in areas such as molecular generation and drug-likeness evaluation, promoting a new AI technology-based drug discovery system to address challenges in practical drug development scenarios and accelerate the new drug R&D process. This collaboration will fully leverage Baidu’s strong advantages in AI algorithms while utilizing AIxplorerBio’s experience in new drug R&D along with its synthesis and testing capabilities to jointly develop algorithmic models. Dr. Daqiang Xu, CEO of AIxplorerBio, stated: "AIxplorerBio is a new drug R&D company oriented towards drug creation and primarily using AI technology as a tool. This collaboration further enhances our AIxMolTM new drug R&D system, accelerating the discovery of candidate drugs and advancing our pipeline progress."

Domain TherapeuticsComplete 4200Million USD ARound of Financing

On May 10, 2022, Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on researching and developing innovative immuno-oncology drugs targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), announced the completion of a $42 million (€39 million) Series A financing. This round was co-led by Panacea Venture, CTI Life Sciences, and 3B Future Health Fund, with participation from Viva Biotech, adMare BioInnovations, Schroders Capital, Omnes, Turenne Capital, Theodorus, and existing investor Seventure Partners.

VIVAVISION's Dual-Target Mechanism VVN539 for Treating GlaucomaOfficially Submitted to the United States IIApplication for Phase Clinical Trial

VIVAVISION, a leading Chinese ophthalmic innovative drug company incubated and invested in by Viva Biotech, announced that it had submitted a Phase II clinical trial application to the FDA for its new drug VVN539, used to treat open-angle glaucoma, on May 5, 2022, and will initiate this clinical study in June 2022.

VVN539 is a next-generation intraocular pressure-lowering drug with a dual-target mechanism. It works by acting on the trabecular meshwork of the eye, increasing aqueous humor outflow, thereby achieving the effect of lowering intraocular pressure. In preclinical animal models, VVN539 demonstrated excellent intraocular pressure-lowering effects.

ArrePathAnnouncement of the Appointment of Bret BentonPh.D., Vice President of Microbiology

Recently, ArrePath, an anti-infective drug discovery company invested in and incubated by Viva Biotech, which is dedicated to addressing global health issues related to drug-resistant infections, announced the appointment of Dr. Bret Benton as Vice President of Microbiology. As a member of ArrePath’s senior leadership team, Dr. Benton will lead the company’s operations in Princeton, advancing its proprietary machine learning and imaging technologies to discover and develop novel anti-infective drugs.

QurAlisCEO Kasper RoetPh.D. Selected in 2022Henri Termeer Award

On April 21, the Termeer Foundation, a highly influential international non-profit organization dedicated to connecting life science innovators in North America and Europe to jointly promote new drug development, announced the two recipients of the "2022 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award." In recognition of his active contributions to fostering life science partnerships between Massachusetts, USA, and the Netherlands, Dr. Kasper Roet, co-founder and CEO of QurAlis, a biotech innovation company invested in and incubated by Viva Biotech, was honored as one of the awardees at the Life Science Innovation Conference.

Pylon Bio Completes 1750Million USD ARound of financing, and establish a new strategic partnership with Viva Biotech

Recently, Shanghai GT Apeiron Therapeutics (referred to as "GT Apeiron Therapeutics") announced the completion of a $17.5 million Series A financing round. This round was led by Panacea Venture, with Viva Biotech and other existing investors participating. This marks another financing round for GT Apeiron Therapeutics following its Pre-A+ round in May 2021. The proceeds will advance its CDK7 inhibitor program into clinical trials, as well as several early-stage projects.

At the same time, GT Bio announced a strategic partnership with Viva Biotech (HK: 01873), leveraging Viva Biotech's world-leading structure-based drug discovery technology to empower GT Bio’s AI-driven innovative drug discovery.