China biotechs appear increasingly interested in partnering with domestic counterparts amid signs the Chinese government's restrictive "COVID Zero" policies are likely to stay until well into 2023.

HanAll and Daewoong remain upbeat on dry eye candidate HL036 and are gearing up for a second Phase III US study despite the first missing its primary endpoint in just-released top-line results.

The US FDA has issued a complete response letter for KPI-121 but Kala hopes to resubmit the drug during the first half of next year backed by data from the ongoing STRIDE 3 study.

A mixed set of results from a Phase IIb/III trial of TOP1630 has not deterred the privately-held firm which maintains that the anti-inflammatory kinase inhibitor is a promising treatment.