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BioSpectrum Asia Magazine - BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025

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In this issue

How Private Sector is Fueling APAC Vax Demand As vaccine debates resurface in global politics, most recently fueled by renewed anti-vaccine rhetoric from the US President Donald Trump, attention is once again turning to the critical role vaccines play in safeguarding public health. Across the Asia-Pacific region, vaccines are evolving from a purely public health tool into a broader healthcare priority with growing private sector participation. Private-sector vaccine sales now account for an estimated 15–35 per cent of total revenue. According to Frost & Sullivan, private-market shares vary widely from around 20 per cent in China and 25–30 per cent in India to as high as 35–40 per cent in parts of Southeast Asia. Strengthened by post-pandemic health awareness, expanding middle-class purchasing power, and new manufacturer strategies, Asia’s private vaccine market is becoming an increasingly important force shaping growth, innovation, and access across the region.

EXPEDITING APPROVALS OF SAFE & AFFORDABLE BIOSIMILARS

While the world is discussing and troubled over 100 per cent tariffs on medicines announced just over a month back by the US administration, there is a music played to the ear of pharma producers in Asia. This music was played by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week when it made a major announcement over approvals of biosimilars, generic versions of complex biological drugs, that treat serious and chronic diseases.

2 mins

Australia invests $13.6 M to strengthen its status in world-class clinical trials

The Australian Government is investing $13.6 million to progress key national health and medical research reforms; improve earlier access to emerging treatments, strengthen Australia's clinical trials and deliver better health outcomes for Australians.

1 mins

Singapore boosts medtech regulatory support and market access

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation Medical Technology Industry Group (SMF MTIG) are pioneering a comprehensive support ecosystem for Singapore's MedTech industry through their strategic partnership, combining the SME Centre@SMF's services with HSA's Health Products Regulation Group (HPRG) Innovation Office's technical regulatory expertise.

1 mins

Indian PM approves DSIR Scheme of Capacity Building and HR Development with outlay of Rs 2277 Cr

The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research / Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR/CSIR) Scheme on “Capacity Building and Human Resource (HR) Development” with a total outlay of Rs 2277.397 crore for the period of the Fifteenth Finance Commission Cycle 2021-22 to 2025-26.

1 mins

UAE strengthens medical preparedness in emergencies and crises

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has signed several agreements with many private hospitals from across the UAE to enhance cooperation in areas of preparedness and response to emergencies and reinforce integration between public and private sectors.

1 mins

Japan develops action plan to use AI in operations

The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan's regulatory authority, has developed an Action Plan for the use of AI in Operations.

1 mins

South Korea establishes first comprehensive plan for organ and tissue donation

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), South Korea government, has finalised the First Comprehensive Plan for Organ Donation and Transplantation (2026-2030) following a review by the Organ Transplant Ethics Committee.

1 mins

Starpharma announces collaboration worth $564 M with Genentech for cancer therapies

Starpharma, an Australian biotechnology company, has announced the signing of a collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop potential cancer therapies that leverage Starpharma's proprietary DEP drug delivery technology.

1 mins

Boehringer Ingelheim signs $991 M deal with Korea's Aimed Bio for cancer ADC portfolio

Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim and Korean biotech startup AimedBio have announced a global collaboration and licensing agreement to develop a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy for a broad range of cancers.

1 mins

Glenmark inks $1.093 B deal with Hengrui's HER2 targeting ADC for multiple regions

Glenmark Specialty S.A. (GSSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, has entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with China's Hengrui Pharma for Trastuzumab Rezetecan (SHR-A1811), a next-generation HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC).

1 mins

Chugai inks $1.08B deal with Rani Therapeutics for multiple high-value therapeutics

Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical and US-based Rani Therapeutics, LLC, a subsidiary of Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., have entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement for the development and commercialisation of an oral product consisting of Rani's oral delivery technology, the RaniPill, and Chugai's rare disease antibody in development.

1 mins

Poly Medicure announces acquisition of Citieffe Group for Rs 324 Cr

India-based medtech firm Poly Medicure has announced signing of a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent stake in Medistream SA (Group) consisting of Citieffe SRL and its step-down subsidiaries in USA & Mexico, at an Enterprise Value of Rs 324 crore (EUR 31 million).

1 mins

RedHill Biopharma signs $1.8 M deal to accelerate Talicia's entry into new Middle East markets

Red Hill Biopharma, a US-based specialty biopharmaceutical company, has announced the licensing of Talicia for new Middle East markets in a deal worth potentially $1.8 million plus sales royalty payments.

1 mins

Sumitomo, Novo Nordisk to co-promote obesity drug Wegovy in Japan

Sumitomo Pharma and Novo Nordisk Pharma have entered into a co-promotion agreement in Japan for Wegovy Subcutaneous Injection, a once-weekly subcutaneous injection formulation of GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of obesity disease.

1 mins

Mirxes' non-invasive microRNA blood test secures approval in China for gastric cancer screening

Singapore-based Mirxes has been granted regulatory approval for its flagship product, GASTROClear, by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

1 mins

Cell Therapies partners with Teijin to expand access to advanced CGT in APAC

Australia-based Cell Therapies and Japan's Teijin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional infrastructure for cell and gene therapies (CGT), leveraging advanced GMP capabilities and cross-border collaboration to accelerate development and improve patient access across Japan and the wider Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

1 mins

ProSpecBio launches Activin-A recombinant protein for brain injury research

Israel-based ProSpecBio, an evolving biotech company dedicated to providing highly purified proteins to the global research community, has announced the launch of its latest product: CHO cell-derived recombinant Activin-A, now available for immediate delivery worldwide.

1 mins

SK Biopharma announces Joint Venture with Eurofarma for AI-based epilepsy management

SK Biopharmaceuticals, a South Korean biotech company focusing on research, development, and commercialisation of treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and oncology worldwide, has announced the establishment of Mentis Care, Inc., a joint venture with a leading Brazil-based pharmaceutical company, Eurofarma, with presence in 24 countries, including North America, Latin America and Africa, to commercialise an AI-based epilepsy management platform.

1 mins

Serum Institute of India & CEPI supercharge pandemic response preparedness targeting H5N1

Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is collaborating with Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), part of Cyrus Poonawalla Group, to boost pandemic response preparedness using a baculovirus vaccine platform to target H5N1 bird flu as a prototype for a potential Disease X—an as-yet-unknown pathogen with pandemic potential.

1 mins

Vision Science and Technology invests HK$5 M for myopia and presbyopia management

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received funding support of HK$5 million from Vision Science and Technology (VST), a PolyU startup specialised in pioneering myopia control technologies.

1 mins

K-Bio Lab Hub inks MoU with Australia's Monash University

Australia’s biotech capital, Melbourne, has further strengthened its research and development capabilities through a newly formed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Monash University and K-Bio Lab Hub — South Korea’s government-backed biotech incubator.

1 mins

Texas Medical Center unveils BioBridge with South Korea

A new collaboration between Texas Medical Center, the world's largest innovation hub, and the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation (KBIOHealth), South Korea's leading national medical initiative, is set to accelerate the market entry and commercialisation of Korean startups in the United States through the TMC | Republic of Korea BioBridge.

1 mins

Prerna launches India's first MicroRNA based blood test for breast cancer screening

Precision RNA Biotech (Prerna), a healthcare startup from Hyderabad, India has announced the launch of Cantel, India's first microRNA-based blood test for breast cancer screening.

1 mins

Alpha Fusion builds joint initiative with Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital

Japan's startup Alpha Fusion Inc. has announced a joint initiative with the Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital (KCGH) to establish a domestic supply system for investigational drugs utilising Astatine-211 (At211).

1 mins

Nanyang Biologics plans NASDAQ listing through $1.5 B biz combination

Singapore-based startup Nanyang Biologics (NYB) has entered into a business combination agreement (BCA) with RF Acquisition Corp II (RFAI), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, in a transaction aimed at making NYB become a publicly listed company.

1 mins

UK announces £50 M boost for groundbreaking mental health research

People with experience of mental health problems will be brought into the heart of cutting edge research to develop more effective treatments, as part of up to £50 million funding being announced by the Government in the UK.

1 mins

PAHO publishes guide for designing AI instructions in public health

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new guide providing practical advice on how to create Artificial Intelligence (AI) prompts that generate reliable, relevant, and culturally appropriate content across diverse contexts.

1 mins

US FDA authorises marketing of first eyeglass lenses to slow progression of paediatric myopia

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised marketing of the Essilor Stellest eyeglass lenses to correct myopia, commonly referred to as nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism and to slow the progression of the disease in children 6 to 12 years old at the initiation of treatment.

1 mins

World Bank approves new financing to enhance Nigeria's health security

The World Bank has approved two projects to support Nigeria's efforts in expanding digital infrastructure and strengthening health security systems.

1 mins

All-in-one coronavirus vaccines to save millions in future pandemics

A new study reveals that vaccines designed to protect against a wide range of coronaviruses could dramatically reduce deaths and economic disruption and limit the need for lockdowns in the event of another global coronavirus pandemic.

1 mins

Africa to strengthen public health workforce capacity for NCD surveillance

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has partnered with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a Danish enterprise Foundation, to strengthen public health workforce capacity for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) surveillance across ten African Union (AU) Member States.

1 mins

WHO upgrades public health intelligence system

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with key partners and supporters, has launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, used globally for the early detection of public health threats.

1 mins

WHO to advance digitised health systems in sub-Saharan Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have announced a new agreement to support the digital transformation of health systems and wider adoption of WHO's Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) in sub-Saharan Africa.

1 mins

WHO strengthens coordination for NTD programmes and supply chain delivery

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with health ministries, pharmaceutical donours, implementing partners and technical support platforms, is strengthening coordination for neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes and supply chain delivery, through three major back-to-back meetings in Geneva.

1 mins

How Private Sector is Fueling APAC Vax Demand

As vaccine debates resurface in global politics, most recently fuelled by renewed anti-vaccine rhetoric from the US President Donald Trump, attention is once again turning to the critical role vaccines play in safeguarding public health. Across the Asia-Pacific region, vaccines are evolving from a purely public health tool into a broader healthcare priority with growing private sector participation. Private-sector vaccine sales now account for an estimated 15-35 per cent of total revenue. According to Frost & Sullivan, private-market shares vary widely from around 20 per cent in China and 25-30 per cent in India to as high as 35-40 per cent in parts of Southeast Asia. Strengthened by post-pandemic health awareness, expanding middle-class purchasing power, and new manufacturer strategies, Asia's private vaccine market is becoming an increasingly important force shaping growth, innovation, and access across the region. Let's explore further.

9 mins

Private Market Vaccines Drive Growth and Strategy Shifts Across China

The vaccine landscape in Asia-Pacific is evolving rapidly as private or self-paid vaccination emerges as a key growth driver. In China in particular, vaccines such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) dominate the self-paid segment, reflecting both rising consumer demand and growing awareness of preventive health.

2 mins

Mind Over Matter: Decoding China's BCI Push

Once popularised by Elon Musk's Neuralink, brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is now drawing major interest in China. We now look at how the country is stepping up research and investment to advance its own BCI ecosystem.

6 mins

Vietnam Rises as a Key Pharmerging Market

Vietnam is emerging as one of Asia's most promising pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets. As the government advances its national pharma strategy and regional collaborations deepen, the country is positioning itself as a future hub for biotech in Southeast Asia. We look at how the key trends are shaping Vietnam's pharma and biotech sectors from regulatory reforms and investment flows to the rise of local innovators.

4 mins

'Point of care will change the CDMO business structure from Centralised to De-Centralised cell manufacturing”

With Japan emerging as a hub for regenerative medicine innovation, Teijin Regenet—a Teijin Group company— has become a key player driving next-generation manufacturing and CDMO growth.

2 mins

"GST reduction makes diagnostics more accessible and supports “Make in India” vision by levelling the field for local products"

The Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI), the apex body representing 80-90 domestic and multinational in vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies, has announced the election of Jatin Mahajan, Managing Director of J. Mitra & Co., as its new President recently. Under his leadership, ADMI aims to foster greater collaboration between Indian firms and global players through inclusive working groups and open forums. By presenting a unified industry voice, the association plans to engage policymakers and regulators more effectively, advocating for regulatory reforms, quality standards, tax rationalization, and other supportive policies. In an interaction with BioSpectrum Asia Mahajan emphasizes that aligning perspectives across the sector will not only ensure a level playing field but also drive sustainable growth, strengthen India's diagnostics ecosystem, and enhance its global competitiveness. Edited excerpts;

7 mins

Policy Reforms Give India's MedTech Sector a Global Edge

Since medical technology (MedTech) is a sunrise industry, the government is giving it priority to support patient-centric growth, while also concentrating on lowering reliance on imports and aligning regulations with international norms. With a focus on capital, incubation, talent development, and market access, the Indian government has started a broad range of programmes to support MedTech firms. This article examines governmental and regulatory efforts, emphasizing how policy-driven assistance is helping MedTech businesses become more globally competitive.

6 mins

The Zika Comeback: One Vaccine, One Hope

Asia, the epicenter of flaviviruses like Japanese encephalitis (JE), dengue, and Zika, faces both a critical need and a strategic opportunity to lead vaccine development. Phylogenetic evidence shows that the Zika strain behind the Americas outbreak originated in Southeast Asia. With global pipelines favouring high-income markets, regional biotech can drive preventive solutions, scale production, and avert outbreaks as Zika quietly resurfaces across Southeast Asia.

4 mins

Thailand's Life Sciences Push Gains Business Momentum

Thailand, emerging as a life sciences hub, fueled by biotech startups, multinational investment, and government-backed research in vaccines, genomics, and regenerative medicine, is positioning itself as ASEAN’s leading center for healthcare innovation.

2 mins

NTU in Singapore introduces Master of Science course in Chinese Medicine

From 2026, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore will start offering a Master of Science in Chinese Medicine to develop highly skilled postgraduates with advanced expertise in both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of Chinese medicine.

1 mins

Chulalongkorn University launches Thailand's first master's programme in Nurse Anesthesia

The Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, has officially launched the \"Master of Nursing Science Programme in Nurse Anesthesia\" - the first of its kind in Thailand.

1 mins

India approves Phase III of Biomedical Research Career Programme

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), Phase-III.

1 mins

AdvanCell names Andrew Kay as Chair of the Board of Directors

AdvanCell, an Australian clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of Andrew Kay as Director and Chair-elect of its Board of Directors, succeeding Bill Ferris AC.

1 mins

Clinical trial by Australia marks key milestone in fight against antibiotic resistance

An international clinical trial, led by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia, has been hailed as a significant step forward in the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

1 mins

Japan generates iPS cells from human peripheral blood cells

A team of scientists at Kyoto University, Japan has successfully established induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using synthetic RNA, which has been a technical challenge until now.

1 mins

Korea designs bioadhesive sponge offering new way to stop internal bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding during surgery remains one of the deadliest medical emergencies.

1 mins

Shimadzu introduces new software to detect impurities

Shimadzu Corporation has released LabSolutions Detect, a software with AI functionality to support anomaly detection for Liquid Chromatographs (LC).

1 mins

Waters launches charge detection mass spectrometry technology

US-based Waters Corporation has unveiled the Waters Xevo Charge Detection Mass Spectrometer (CDMS), delivering unmatched measurement and characterisation for the broadest range of mega-mass biomolecules central to next-generation therapeutics and structural biology.

1 mins

Political will, investment in surveillance and health systems against AMR

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) dominated discussions at the Seventy-eighth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee, held from October 13–15 in Colombo. Member States adopted a major resolution to strengthen national responses to AMR, coinciding with the release of WHO's Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Report 2025, which warns of growing global resistance to essential antibiotics. The new WHO report, launched on October 13, presents the most comprehensive analysis to date of antibiotic resistance trends worldwide. Based on data reported by over 100 countries through the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), it found that one in six bacterial infections globally in 2023 was resistant to common antibiotic treatments. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in over 40 per cent of pathogen-antibiotic combinations, with annual rises of 5–15 per cent.

2 mins

Read all Stories from BioSpectrum Asia

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine Description:

Publisher: MM-Activ-Sci-Tech-Communication

Category: Business

Language: English

Frequency: Monthly

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine is a monthly magazine published by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communication in India. It is a leading biotechnology magazine in Asia, covering a wide range of topics related to the biotechnology industry, including:

* Biotechnology news and trends: BioSpectrum Asia covers the latest biotechnology news and trends from India and around the world.

* Biotechnology company profiles and interviews: The magazine profiles leading biotechnology companies in Asia and interviews their CEOs and other top executives.

* Biotechnology research and development: BioSpectrum Asia covers the latest biotechnology research and development from academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

* Biotechnology product reviews: The magazine reviews the latest biotechnology products and services.

* Biotechnology industry events: BioSpectrum Asia covers biotechnology industry events from around the world.

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine is a must-read for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest advances in biotechnology and their potential to impact the world around us.