Being the Chinese biotech’s backbone asset in the autoimmune disease area, telitacicept, a BlyS/APRIL dual targeting fusion protein, has hit its target in a China-only Phase III study in generalized myasthenia gravis. The candidate is also being investigated in global Phase III trials in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome.

Everything seemed to be aligned for success, but shares in leading Chinese antibody developer RemeGen recently dropped by nearly 40%, reflecting a range of internal and external likely factors.

Antibody-drug conjugates, GLP-1 receptor agonists and cell/gene therapies propelled a big increase in clinical trial registrations in China last year, but why do sponsors sometimes remain reluctant to actually start studies?

To date, nine major pairs of antibody and payload-linker platform makers based in China are making a concerted approach for ADC research and development, research by Scrip reveals.