The ranks of B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugates under development in China have seen their first dropout, although elsewhere there are two FGFR2b-directed ADCs with first-in-class potential on the horizon. Meanwhile, there have been other discontinuations of KRAS G12C inhibitors and anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapies in the country, while new players have surfaced in the areas of mRNA cancer vaccines and amyloid-beta-targeting antibodies for Alzheimer’s disease.

Public Company Edition: This year’s newly public companies are trading an average of 9.7% below their IPO prices, including the two most recent debuts, Boundless Bio and Contineum. Also, Nkarta, Praxis and Nurix grossed $240m, $200m and $175m, respectively, in follow-on offerings.

Biopharma firms raised $6bn in the first quarter of 2024, the most of any quarter since Q2 2022. But without an increase in the number of companies raising funds, the rebound remains uneven.

The shockwave of WuXi's withdrawal from BIO is ripping through the Chinese contract services sector. While some remain hopeful, others are preparing Plan B.