Deal follows 2013 pact between Ambrx and NovoCodex parent Zhejiang Medicine for HER2-positive-directed ADC. Astellas teams with Pandion on pancreatic cancer and Takeda with MD Anderson on CAR NK therapies.

WuXi Biologics is aiming high to become the world’s biggest biologics manufacturer within five years after seeing strong confidence from capital markets in its growth potential and a boost from its new biologics manufacturing facility. The Chinese company plans on more investment in early 2018 to prepare for an expected biologics surge in China, its chief executive tells Scrip.

With 70 clinical trials now underway on a “next generation” of more precisely targeted antibody drug conjugates, In Vivo profiles Ambrx and Sutro Biopharma, two smaller biotechs with promising technologies and powerful partners that augment their strong science with disease awareness, deep commercial networks and global geographic reach.

A licensing deal between the two cancer-focused biotechs falls apart amidst investor unrest at Immunomedics. Novartis opts to license Conatus' Phase II NASH candidate and picks up a CAR-T candidate from Celyad, while Shire adds to its dry eye franchise in deal with Parion.