BRIEF—News from Taiwan

Japan’s Ono Pharmaceutical has received Taiwan approval for Opdivo (nivolumab) as a neoadjuvant therapy combined with two platinum-based chemo drugs for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) free of EGFR or ALK mutations.

Last year, the Taiwan authority also approved Opdivo as a frontline option in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) or a chemo drug to treat metastatic esophageal cancer, and an adjuvant therapy for resected esophageal cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb signed a deal back in 2014 to co-develop and commercialize Opdivo and Yervoy in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

TaiMed to launch Trogarzo in USA

Taiwan biotech TaiMed Biologics plans to launch its AIDS drug Trogarzo (ibalizumab) in the USA with its partner Thera Technologies in the second quarter of 2023.

The drug gained US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2018 but its commercialization plans were greatly disrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic, according to the company.

TaiMed is currently working with WEP Clinical to roll out Trogarzo in Europe while seeking opportunities to expand sales outside the USA and Europe.