Joincare Pharmaceutical and partner TaiGen Biotechnology tout preliminary Phase III results in uncomplicated acute influenza for TG-1000, a homegrown follower of Shionogi/Roche’s oral antiviral Xofluza. Novel antivirals for flu were hotly pursued by Chinese developers throughout 2023.

In a breakthrough for drug discovery, quantum hardware outperformed classical hardware in generating two promising KRAS inhibitors.

More than 100 biopharma executives and experts told Scrip their predictions for therapeutic area advances in the coming year. The recent commercial success of GLP-1s in diabetes and obesity and their potential in further disease areas fuelled excitement around the metabolic space. Expectations were also positive in neurology following the launch of Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, while the multiple opportunities to improve cancer treatment kept oncology top of the pile overall.

The success of Enhertu led Daiichi Sankyo to raise its annual forecast for the fiscal year ending 31 March, while Eisai is readying for Leqembi’s steady US growth. Meanwhile, Astellas, Chugai and Shionogi balanced growth for some products with declines for others.