Eledon Pharmaceuticals’ CD40 Ligand blocker has yielded impressive results for post-transplant immunosuppression and cutting-edge transplant doctors have also used it for pig-to-human kidney and heart transplants, opening up the field of xenotransplantation. 

Yuhan’s chief scientific officer shares why the leading Korean pharma firm is stepping up its open innovation activities and how this is helping to transform the company into a more global and R&D-based enterprise.

Major Korean firm Yuhan is seeing progress across multiple novel drug candidates licensed out to global partners, with two now entering pivotal trials. An innovative therapy for degenerative disc disease licensed to Spine BioPharma has received an FDA nod for a Phase III program and may change the standard of care for chronic low back pain patients.

Private Company Edition: Clover’s $230m financing was the largest of recent mega-rounds. Century Therapeutics ($160m), Vividion ($135m) and eGenesis ($125m) also raised big rounds and investors Foresite Capital ($969m), Sofinnova Partners ($540m) and OMX Ventures ($150m) raised new VC funds.