Antibodies targeting TIGIT, IL-27, CCR8 and BTLA from the Chinese and US firms are among the first batch of combination candidates expected to expand the indications of anti-PD-1 antibody Loqtorzi beyond the rare condition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

With only weeks to go in 2022, the three major pharmas each had inked between 16 and 20 deals. Meanwhile, Pfizer has been less busy with 12 deals, but those include M&A totaling $18.2bn.

Chinese biotechs listed in the US have a watershed day, with many shares nosediving by over 10% amid leadership changes in China, where the retirement of several economic pragmatists appears to be adding to souring investment sentiment amid views on rising uncertainties and risks.

Deal Snapshot: Other major players have made headway in bispecifics for prostate cancer, while Jemincare’s drug is the latest China-developed technology to head westward.