A new addition (addiction) for you. The FDA has approved Qamzova, the first China-developed non-opioid painkiller, offering a potential tool to help reduce fentanyl-related overdose deaths.
Created by Nanjing-based biotech firm Delova, Qamzova is the world’s first long-acting injectable analgesic, providing 24-hour pain relief with a single daily dose. The drug is a high-concentration form of meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) in the same class as ibuprofen and aspirin,
Pfizer has entered into a licensing agreement with China’s 3S Bio for a cancer drug that utilizes bi-specific antibody technology, targeting PD1 and VEGF. 3S Bio is currently conducting clinical trials for this drug in China, focusing on non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gynecological tumors. Pfizer will pay 3S Bio $1.25 billion upfront and potentially up to $4.8 billion for the rights to develop and sell the drug outside of China.
SSGJ-707 is an investigational bispecific antibody developed by China’s 3SBio (specifically Sunshine Guojian Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary). It has recently garnered significant attention due to Pfizer’s exclusive global licensing agreement (excluding China) for its development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Mechanism of Action: SSGJ-707 has a dual-action mechanism. It simultaneously blocks:
PD-1 (Programmed Death-1): This is an immune checkpoint protein. By blocking PD-1, the drug aims to “unleash” the body’s immune system, allowing T cells to better recognize and fight cancer cells.
VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor): This protein plays a crucial role in angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread. By inhibiting VEGF, SSGJ-707 aims to “starve” tumors of their blood supply. This dual targeting is designed to enhance anti-tumor immunity while also disrupting the tumor’s vascular network, offering a potentially more comprehensive attack on cancer than single-agent therapies.
Development Status:
SSGJ-707 is currently undergoing several clinical trials in China.
It has shown promising early efficacy and safety data in various tumor types.
3SBio plans to initiate the first Phase 3 clinical trial in China in 2025 for the first-line treatment of PD-L1 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This Phase 3 trial is designed to head-to-head against Merck’s blockbuster PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), with primary endpoint data expected by July 2026.
It is also undergoing Phase II studies for other indications, including metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced gynecological tumors.
Indications Under Investigation (in China):
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)
Gynecological tumors (e.g., endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer)
Schizophrenia is a chronic disease characterized by high disability and a high recurrence rate. Globally, there are approximately 24 million patients, with over 8 million in China.
Among the treatments, aripiprazole, a representative of the new generation of antipsychotic drugs, is recommended by multiple domestic and international guidelines due to its significant efficacy and relatively good safety profile. However, oral formulations require daily administration, and factors such as impaired cognitive function in patients often lead to missed or refused doses. Data shows that the treatment interruption rate for schizophrenia patients in China reaches 75%, with a relapse rate of 77% within one year after discharge and climbing to 90% within two years.
A newly launched drug, independently developed by Livzon Pharmaceutical over 8 years, is the first microsphere formulation of aripiprazole. It only requires a once-monthly intramuscular injection to maintain continuous effectiveness.
Data indicates that this new drug has a faster dissolution rate, enabling rapid and effective control of patient symptoms; the sustained-release material controls drug release, resulting in more stable blood drug concentrations; and it has a lower incidence of adverse reactions. These characteristics allow it to achieve the therapeutic goals of “high convenience, stable concentration, and low residue,” effectively addressing the three major pain points of poor compliance, fluctuating efficacy, and easy recurrence, thus providing a better treatment option for schizophrenia patients.
