RepliCel Life Sciences Inc (TSXV:RP)
RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies that address diseases caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal healing and function.
Tianjin CanSino Biologics (HK: 6185; SHA: 688185) raised $748 million in an IPO on the Shanghai STAR exchange and climbed 88% in its first trading session. In March 2019, the vaccine company completed a $160.5 Million IPO in Hong Kong. CanSino, which is in the forefront of China’s drive to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, has announced a 5,000 person Phase III trial of the vaccine in Saudi Arabia. CanSino’s candidate is delivered by an adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5) vector. It was China’s first COVID-19 vaccine to begin clinical trials, and it has been approved for use in military personnel.
One month ago, CanSino said it was in talks with Russia, Brazil, Chile and Saudi Arabia to launch Phase III trials of the Ad5-nCOV vaccine . The company developed ithe vaccine n partnership with China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences, much like the Ebola vaccine the two entities developed several years ago to fight that outbreak.
Although the first-day 88% rise in its STAR Board stock price may seem impressive, it was less than the usual doubling of STAR IPO prices, so it was a disappointment to jaded China observers. The offering was almost 3,000 times oversubscribed, which is high even by STAR standards.
Dr. Xuefeng Yu, Chairman and Co-founder, said CanSino does not expect to make money from its COVID-19 vaccine in China, once it is approved, because China will demand a low price in order to supply the vaccine to its citizens.
Due to COVID-19, CanSino has slowed progress in its 12 vaccine candidates. Six of its candidates are in clinical trials, six are pre-clinical and its Ebola vaccine is approved. The company’s meningitis and meningococcal vaccines are near to filing NDAs. Both candidates showed superior safety profiles and immunogenicity in their Phase III trials.
CanSino is building a sales and marketing team with the goal expanding from the current 20-plus to 100 by the end of 2020.
To develop its vaccines, CanSino uses four platform technologies including adenovirus-based viral vector vaccine technology, conjugation technology, protein structure design/recombinant technologies and formulation technology. The company says its platforms complement each other and produce a synergistic effect for research and development efforts, enabling the company to build its vaccine portfolio cost-effectively.
CanSino owns and operates a commercial-scale manufacturing facility with a gross floor area of approximately 37,000 m2 that complies with international standards. The facility has an annual bulk production capacity of approximately 70 million to 80 million doses.
Source: China Biotoday
