Shanghai-based ZAI Lab in-licenses autoimmune candidate from UCB

Shanghai-based biotech ZAI Lab has in-licensed global rights to a first-in-class monoclonal antibody aimed at treating autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases from Belgium's UCB, the company said in a press release. ZAI Lab said the candidate is deemed ready for Investigational New Drug-enabling studies and is expected to enter clinical Phase I in 2016. Initial indications are aimed at graft-versus-host disease and inflammatory bowel disease, ZAI Lab CEO Samantha Du said in the statement. Story