While new oral COVID-19 drugs are commanding the headlines, a little-known Chinese biotech is pushing ahead with an intravenous small molecule antiviral candidate now moving towards Phase II/III US trials, its CEO tells Scrip.

While strong growth in China's immuno-oncology sector continued in the last quarter, the momentum appears to be slowing, affecting by multiple factors including intense competition in the sector and price cuts related to reimbursement listing, while regulatory authorities have already warned about what they see as the wasting of resources on "redundant" development activities. 

Chinese venture Brii seeks US emergency authorization for its antibody combo, as Chugai aims for wider use of its antibody cocktail in Japan and two other Chinese firms link up on an oral antiviral. 

The STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange has called a halt to the potentially third-largest biotech IPO this year in an apparent deterrent to the in-licensing model.