Week In Review: BeiGene Sets Record With $1.4 Billion Celgene Deal

Deals and Financings -- Beijing's BeiGene signed a record $1.4 billion out-licensing deal with Celgene that gives Celgene global rights (ex-Asia) to BeiGene's PD-1 immunotherapy while BeiGene acquires China rights to Celgene's cancer drug portfolio; -- a group of well-connected Wuhan University graduates announced a $147 million China healthcare fund to finance the healthcare projects of fellow Wuhan graduates; -- Sino Biological, a Beijing reagents developer, raised $29 million in a Series A round led by Qiming; -- QIAGEN (Suzhou) Translational Medicine, a China precision medicine company, raised $25 million in a Series A funding, also led by Qiming Venture; Trials and Approvals -- BeyondSpring of New York City was approved to start two China Phase II/III trials of its neutropenia treatment; -- BeiGene began a China Phase II trial of its PD-1 immuno-oncology drug in patients with bladder cancer; -- Athenex said its IND filing for Oraxol, an oral paclitaxel, was accepted by the CFDA; Industry Insights -- ChinaBio® Group and EBD Group recently convened the ninth ChinaBio® Partnering Forum against a backdrop of rapidly accelerating change -- rising amounts of investor funding and far-reaching China regulatory reforms.