Insights
Search Results
Client Highlights
5.23.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises Underwriters on Mirxes IPO and SEHK Listing
On May 23, 2025, Mirxes Holding Company Limited (Mirxes) successfully listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK), raising net proceeds of approximately HK$880.5 million from its IPO (the “Listing”), with market capitalization of approximately HK$6,438.8 million. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati acted as Hong Kong and U.S. counsel in the Listing to the underwriting syndicate led by joint sponsors China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited and CCB International Capital Limited.
Client Highlights
1.13.25
Firm Advises Insilico on Patent Matters Related to Exclusive Global License Agreement with Menarini Group
On January 10, 2025, leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company the Menarini Group and Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group focused on bringing transformational oncology treatments to cancer patients, and Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biotechnology company, announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement granting Stemline the global rights to develop and commercialize a preclinical small molecule targeting high unmet needs in oncology. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Insilico on patent matters related to the agreement.
Client Highlights
11.14.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises LaNova Medicines on Exclusive Global License with Merck
On November 14, 2024, Merck and LaNova Medicines, a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that they entered into an exclusive global license for Merck to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LM-299, a novel investigational bispecific antibody targeting both programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in China. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised LaNova on the transaction.
Alerts
4.03.24
Newly Amended Chinese Implementing Rules for Patent Law and Guidelines for Patent Examination Bring Significant Changes to Patenting Strategy in China
On December 21, 2023, more than three years after the amendments to the Patent Law in 2020 (2020 Patent Law), the Implementation Regulations of the Patent Law (Rules) and the Guidelines for Patent Examination (Guidelines) were issued and came into force on January 20, 2024.1 The amended Rules and Guidelines may impact your patenting strategy in China, including topics such as the Chinese versions of Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) and Patent Term Extension (PTE). We highlight below some of the most important changes that have been implemented in the Rules and Guidelines:
Client Highlights
1.05.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Insilico Medicine on License Agreement with Menarini Group
On January 4, 2024, Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. (Stemline), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group focused on bringing transformational oncology treatments to cancer patients, and Insilico Medicine (Insilico), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biotechnology company, announced they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement granting Stemline global rights to develop and commercialize a novel, small molecule KAT6A inhibitor designed using Insilico's AI platform as a potential treatment for hormone sensitive cancers and other oncology indications. Under the terms of the agreement, Stemline will pay to Insilico a $12 million upfront payment; potential development, regulatory, and commercial milestones in excess of $500 million; and royalties.
Client Highlights
9.12.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises Insilico Medicine on $80 Million Agreement with Exelixis
On September 12, 2023, Exelixis, Inc. and Insilico Medicine announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive license agreement granting Exelixis global rights to develop and commercialize ISM3091, a potentially best-in-class small molecule inhibitor of USP1, which has emerged as a synthetic lethal target in the context of BRCA-mutated tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Insilico granted Exelixis an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize ISM3091, and other USP1-targeting compounds, in exchange for an upfront payment to Insilico of $80 million anticipated in the third quarter 2023. Insilico is also eligible to receive future development, commercial, and sales-based milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.
Client Highlights
8.02.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises Boyu Capital on Quasar Medical Acquisition
On July 31, 2023, The Longreach Group announced that it had, together with the founder family minority shareholders, completed the sale of all the issued and outstanding shares in Quasar Medical to funds managed by Boyu Capital. The deal value was not disclosed. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Boyu Capital in this acquisition.
Client Highlights
5.08.23
Firm Advises Underwriters on Luzhu Biotechnology’s IPO
On May 8, 2023, Beijing Luzhu Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Luzhu Biotechnology) successfully listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, raising approximately HK$340.7 million (US$43.4 million) from a global offering of 10,386,000 H shares. Luzhu Biotechnology is a biotechnology company committed to developing innovative vaccines and therapeutic biologics to prevent and control infectious diseases and treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Since the beginning of 2023, Luzhu Biotechnology is the first pre-revenue biotech company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant to Chapter 18A of the Listing Rules.
Client Highlights
5.10.22
Firm Advises LaNova Medicines on Exclusive License Agreement with Turning Point Therapeutics
On May 5, 2022, Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage precision oncology company designing and developing novel targeted therapies for cancer treatment, announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with LaNova Medicines Limited to develop and commercialize LM-302, a novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Claudin18.2, in the U.S. and the rest of the world, excluding Greater China and South Korea. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised LaNova on licensing and patent matters related to the transaction.
Under the terms of the licensing agreement, LaNova will receive an upfront payment of $25 million and will be eligible to receive up to an additional $195 million in development and regulatory milestone payments. In addition, LaNova is eligible to receive commercial sales milestones and tiered royalties ranging from mid-single-digit to mid-teens percentages on net sales (subject to customary deductions). As part of the agreement, both parties agreed to potentially broaden the partnership by collaborating on up to three additional ADC programs.
Claudin18.2 is a protein expressed in many gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and pancreatic cancer. LM-302, which going forward will be identified as TPX-4589, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in both the U.S. and China. TPX-4589 (LM-302) is a potentially first-in-class anti-Claudin18.2 ADC discovered by LaNova that suppresses cell proliferation of gastric and pancreatic cell lines with nanomolar potency in preclinical models. It also has demonstrated efficacy in gastric and pancreatic cancer xenograft models.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised LaNova on the transaction included technology transactions partner Alex Key and Of Counsel Chi-Fei Wang, and patents and innovations Senior Of Counsel Karen Wong and Of Counsel Richard Wang.
Under the terms of the licensing agreement, LaNova will receive an upfront payment of $25 million and will be eligible to receive up to an additional $195 million in development and regulatory milestone payments. In addition, LaNova is eligible to receive commercial sales milestones and tiered royalties ranging from mid-single-digit to mid-teens percentages on net sales (subject to customary deductions). As part of the agreement, both parties agreed to potentially broaden the partnership by collaborating on up to three additional ADC programs.
Claudin18.2 is a protein expressed in many gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and pancreatic cancer. LM-302, which going forward will be identified as TPX-4589, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in both the U.S. and China. TPX-4589 (LM-302) is a potentially first-in-class anti-Claudin18.2 ADC discovered by LaNova that suppresses cell proliferation of gastric and pancreatic cell lines with nanomolar potency in preclinical models. It also has demonstrated efficacy in gastric and pancreatic cancer xenograft models.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised LaNova on the transaction included technology transactions partner Alex Key and Of Counsel Chi-Fei Wang, and patents and innovations Senior Of Counsel Karen Wong and Of Counsel Richard Wang.
Client Highlights
3.28.22
Wilson Sonsini Advises InSilico Medicine on Collaboration with EQRx
On March 24, 2022, InSilico Medicine, a clinical-stage end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, announced it has entered into a strategic collaboration with EQRx, a company committed to developing and delivering innovative medicines to patients at radically lower prices. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented InSilico in the transaction.
Client Highlights
11.15.21
Wilson Sonsini Advises 6 Dimensions and Its Portfolio Ignis Therapeutics on Ignis’ $180 Million Series A Financing and Strategic Licensing Agreement with SKBP
On November 11, 2021, Ignis Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the central nervous system (CNS) incubated by 6 Dimensions Capital (6D), a Shanghai-based global investment firm, announced its $180 million Series A financing led by 6D. To date, the transaction represents the largest Series A financing in the biopharmaceutical sector in China in 2021. The financing includes co-investor participation by Ruentex Group, KB Investment, WTT investment, Mubadala Investment Company, HBM Healthcare Investments, and Goldman Sachs.
Alerts
8.18.21
China Patent Linkage System
Starting in July of this year, China initiated a patent registration platform that bears some similarity to the generic drug framework under the Hatch-Waxman Act in the U.S. The purpose of this alert is to describe this new Patent Linkage System in China and to compare it to the corresponding generic drug framework in the U.S.