Sanofi has received a go-ahead in India for dupilumab in atopic dermatitis with a trial waiver. An India-specific price, local real-world effectiveness and safety study and compelling data are expected to give it an edge over competition in the wings, including Pfizer’s Cibinq.

A Phase IIb trial testing the IL-13 inhibitor in atopic dermatitis demonstrated solid efficacy when dosed once every four weeks, but the market is competitive and dominated by Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent.

Plus deals involving ASLAN/Zenyaku Kogyo, AstraZeneca/Cholsegen, Astellas/Cullgen, AbCellera/Confo, Blue Water/WraSer, Solve/Cereius, Prime Medicine/Cimeio, Evox/Codiak, PharmaTher/Vitruvias and Adverum/Ray.

Cross-border deals are down and investment has dried up, while geopolitical tensions have started hitting the Chinese biotech sector in unprecedented ways. Biopharma firms are expecting more rainy days ahead and are embracing new fundraising and deal-making approaches to survive and thrive.