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BioSpectrum Asia Magazine - BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025

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In this issue

Why TPD Is Biotech’s Next Big Bet Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) is an emerging therapeutic approach that allows the removal of disease-causing proteins once considered ‘undruggable’. These proteins, which make up almost 80 per cent of the human proteome, cannot be addressed using traditional small-molecule binding strategies. By making it possible to eliminate such challenging targets, TPD is opening new opportunities for drug development in cancer, immune conditions, and other hard-to-treat diseases, and is increasingly viewed as a cornerstone for future drug discovery. Today, TPD boasts three approved therapies, nearly 60 clinical-stage assets, and around 200 active research programmes worldwide, according to a report from Nature. With big pharma pouring billions into partnerships, acquisitions, and platform deals, the field is entering a new phase of commercial maturity. In this story, we explore why TPD is commanding global attention from emerging biotech innovators in APAC to multinational players racing to secure the next blockbuster degrader.

Singapore's Health Sciences Authority signs MoU with Hong Kong Department of Health

Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Department of Health (DOH), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in healthcare regulatory matters pertaining to health products.

1 mins

Japan launches nationwide gastric health initiative

In a significant advancement for public health, Japan's 93rd Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has launched a nationwide public health initiative focused on gastric health and early detection of gastric cancer.

1 mins

Malaysia leads way in medical device regulatory reliance

The Ministry of Health Malaysia has announced a historic advancement in international regulatory collaboration with the launch of the Medical Device Regulatory Reliance Programme between Malaysia and China.

1 mins

Australia invests $21.5 M to strengthen aged care workforce

The Australian government is backing its dedicated aged care workforce across Australia, investing $21.5 million in scholarships to help aged care workers and nurses progress in their careers.

1 mins

India unveils national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems

Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, virtually launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH), a first-of-its-kind national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems through a transparent, data-driven framework in the presence of Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

1 mins

UAE strengthens partnerships with Private Hospitals to enhance national newborn screening programme

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently held a coordination meeting with representatives from private hospitals to discuss ways to improve the national newborn screening programme and ensure its alignment with the UAE's approved national standards in accordance with federal health legislation.

1 mins

XtalPi and DoveTree announce landmark AI drug discovery collaboration worth $6 B

XtalPi, a China-based technology company in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics for drug and materials discovery, has announced a transformative strategic collaboration with Dove Tree Medicines, a biotechnology pioneer founded by renowned drug developer D. Gregory Verdine.

1 mins

Astria licenses rare disease drug Navenibart to Japan's Kaken Pharma in $32 M deal

Astria Therapeutics, Inc. a US-based biopharmaceutical company, has exclusively licensed development and commercialisation rights in Japan to Kaken Pharmaceutical, a Japanese specialty pharmaceutical company, for navenibart, a long-acting investigational monoclonal antibody inhibitor of plasma kallikrein, in Phase 3 development for the preventative treatment of the rare disease hereditary angioedema (HAE).

1 mins

Dx&Vx signs $220 M pact with US firm for mRNA cancer vaccine development

South Korea-based Dx&Vx (DXVX) has signed its first-ever global out-licensing agreement since its establishment.

1 mins

Frencken marks groundbreaking for new facility worth S$63 M in Singapore

Frencken Group Limited, a global integrated technology solutions company, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its upcoming manufacturing facility in Kaki Bukit Avenue 5, Singapore.

1 mins

Sanofi acquires next-gen vaccine biotech Vicebio for $1.6 B

Vicebio, a biopharmaceutical company with operations in Australia, UK and Belgium, has entered an exclusive, definitive agreement to be acquired by Sanofi.

1 mins

Cohance Lifesciences invests $10 M in cGMP Bioconjugation Suite in US

India-based Cohance Lifesciences, a leading global Contract Research, Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO), has announced a strategic investment of $10 million to expand cGMP bioconjugation capabilities at its US based subsidiary, NJ Bio.

1 mins

Olympus joins hand with Revival Healthcare to develop endoluminal gastrointestinal robotics

Japan-based medtech company Olympus Corporation has signed a partnership with Revival Healthcare Capital to advance endoluminal robotics.

1 mins

Cartherics unveils cleanroom facility for cell therapy manufacturing in Australia

Cartherics, an Australia-based biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf immune stem cell therapies focusing on high-impact women's diseases, with lead programmes in ovarian cancer and endometriosis, has unveiled its new, state-of-the-art cleanroom facility for clinical-scale manufacturing of cell therapy products.

1 mins

Sanofi strengthens efforts to prevent Chronic Respiratory Diseases in UAE

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in the UAE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sanofi, to promote healthy lifestyles, advance early detection of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and address their associated risk factors.

1 mins

Hugel launches botulinum toxin Letybo in Malaysia

South Korea-based Hugel Inc., a leading global medical aesthetics company, has officially launched its botulinum toxin product Letybo in Malaysia - an emerging market for medical aesthetics in Southeast Asia.

1 mins

Quasar Medical unveils new global headquarters in Singapore

Quasar Medical, a global leader in manufacturing interventional and minimally invasive medical devices, has announced the opening of its Global Headquarters in Singapore.

1 mins

Pfizer introduces 20-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV20) for adults in India

Pfizer has announced the launch of its next-generation 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) for adults in India. With broader serotype coverage, Pfizer’s vaccine marks a significant advancement in protection against pneumococcal disease in adults. Pfizer's vaccine helps protect against clinically relevant 20 serotypes responsible for a majority of invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal disease. It enables timely and proactive protection for all adults, including those living with chronic conditions.

1 mins

Elpis Biopharma signs MoU with NCCS to conduct translational cell therapy research in Singapore

US-based startup Elpis Biopharmaceuticals, a clinicalstage cell therapy company developing bispecific armoured CAR-T therapies for solid tumours, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS).

1 mins

PharmNXT acquires DTR to bring European Bioprocess Engineering to India

In a landmark development for India's biopharmaceutical sector, Indian startup PharmNXT Biotech has acquired Defined Tubing Routing (DTR), a globally recognised player from Ireland, working in advanced bioprocess tubing solutions.

1 mins

Alloy Therapeutics partners with Kansai Startup Academia Coalition in Japan

Alloy Therapeutics Co.has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC), represented by Kyoto University, to foster the global expansion of university-affiliated life science startups across Japan.

1 mins

Thailand approves AI Medical Service's gastric AI-based endoscopic diagnosis support system

AI Medical Service Inc (AIM), a Japan-based medical startup specialising in the development of diagnostic endoscopic AI, has received medical device approval from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA).

1 mins

Mirugen secures upto A$4.5 M seed funding for pioneering cell reprogramming

Mirugen, a preclinical biotechnology startup (re)programming cells to unlock innate cellular repair mechanisms, has announced the successful close of a seed financing round, and the appointment of Charlotte Casebourne Stock as Executive Chair.

1 mins

PhnyX Lab secures $4 M to transform life sciences sector

PhnyX Lab, a pioneering GenAI startup from South Korea transforming how life science companies operate, has announced the successful closing of a $4 million seed round through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE). The round was led by SK Networks, with participation from several prominent angel investors—including Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Cohere, and Illia Polos-ukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol—both of whom are original co-authors of \"Attention Is All You Need,\" the paradigm-shifting work that ushered in the transformer era and laid the foundation for today's generative AI models, including ChatGPT.

1 mins

Guinea introduces malaria vaccine into routine immunisation

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, and with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and PATH, Guinea has officially introduced the malaria vaccine into its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

1 mins

CEPI & PATH join hands to create playbooks to map immune markers in deadly diseases

The global health organisations Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) are joining forces to create pivotal playbooks that map all available research into specific immune markers that indicate protection against target viruses with epidemic or pandemic potential.

1 mins

Kenya eliminates Human African Trypanosomiasis as public health problem

Kenya's Ministry of Health (MoH) recently announced that the country has successfully eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as \"sleeping sickness\", as a public health problem.

1 mins

UK begins roll-out of world-first gonorrhoea vaccine programme

People at highest risk of infection with gonorrhoea will now be better protected from the disease, as the National Health Service (NHS) and local authorities begin the roll-out of a worldfirst vaccination programme in England.

1 mins

Africa CDC and European Commission to strengthen Mpox testing

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the European Commission have announced the launch of the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA), a landmark initiative to boost diagnostics and outbreak response capabilities in Mpox-affected African countries.

1 mins

US FDA announces new PreCheck Programme to boost local drug manufacturing

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced PreCheck, a new programme to strengthen the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain by increasing regulatory predictability and facilitating the construction of manufacturing sites in the United States (US).

1 mins

WHO certifies Timor-Leste as malaria-free

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free, a remarkable achievement for a country that prioritised the disease and embarked on a concerted, nationwide response shortly after gaining independence in 2002.

1 mins

WHO urges action on hepatitis, announcing hepatitis D as carcinogenic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) calls on governments and partners to urgently accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat and reduce liver cancer deaths.

1 mins

WHO strengthens global access to quality-assured medical products

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated Health Canada, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare/Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (MHLW/ PMDA) of Japan, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the United Kingdom as WHO-Listed Authorities (WLAs), a status granted to national authorities that meet the highest international regulatory standards for medical products.

1 mins

Why TPD Is Biotech's Next Big Bet

Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) is an emerging therapeutic approach that allows the removal of disease-causing proteins once considered 'undruggable'.

9 mins

APAC focuses on bridging eye care gaps

Roche APAC Vision Health Survey in 2025 reveals a stark disconnect between vision health concerns and preventive action across Asia Pacific (APAC) - while 91 per cent of adults over 40 express concerns about their vision health, only 28 per cent report undergoing annual or more frequent eye exams.

5 mins

Hong Kong Betting Big on Biotech IPOs

Hong Kong has become one of the preferred destinations for biotech IPOs, attracting both mainland Chinese and international firms.

5 mins

"Despite advances, access to innovative treatments can be limited, particularly for rare cancers"

Specialised in the discovery and development of novel cell signalling small molecules to treat complex medical conditions, Australian life sciences company QBiotics is currently focusing on novel treatments for cancer and debilitating chronic wounds, along with an early-stage antibiotics programme. While the company is known for its lead product, tigilanol tiglate, which is undergoing clinical trials for various cancers, QBiotics is also actively preparing for a potential IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) within this calendar year. To find out more about how QBiotics is tackling some of the most pressing and underserved challenges in global health, BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Stephen Doyle, Chief Executive Officer at QBiotics. Edited excerpts;

4 mins

"APAC is one of the fastestgrowing photodynamic therapy markets globally"

Australia's Invion Group is emerging as a leader in the development of next generation precision photodynamic technology (PDT), known as Photosoft, for a range of cancers and other diseases. The minimally invasive treatment promises to provide a potentially more affordable option for millions of people in developed and developing markets. At the recently held BioAsia Taiwan 2025 event, which highlighted the ongoing demand for precision oncology solutions in underserved Asian markets, BioSpectrum Asia took the opportunity to interact with Thian Chew, Chief Executive Officer, Invion Group to find out more about how the company is revolutionising the oncology market with its new products and technology. Edited excerpts

4 mins

"We aim to position Korea among the global top 3 in clinical trial competitiveness and establish it as Asia's central research hub"

With streamlined regulatory pathways, globally aligned infrastructure, and strong patient engagement, Korea is fast emerging as a preferred hub for clinical development in Asia. At the centre of this shift is KoNECT — a government-funded, nonprofit organisation under the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea tasked with accelerating both domestic and global clinical trial activity. President Dr. Inseok Park discusses how the agency is driving international investment, deepening cross-border collaborations, and preparing Korea’s research workforce for the next phase of global clinical trials. Edited excerpts:

4 mins

“Singapore has been a great launchpad, owing to its structured safety frameworks”

The increasing prevalence of occupational injuries and illnesses is one of the primary factors fueling the growth of the occupational health market, valued at $5.45 billion in 2025, across the globe. With the Asia Pacific (APAC) region occupying the third-largest share in this market, after the US and Europe, we see a number of companies deploying technologies to unlock tremendous opportunities within the occupational health sector. Singapore-based startup TacnIQ AI is one such example, taking a proactive approach to address the health risks associated with workplace management, through technology. Their flagship product Backy is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable designed to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in physically demanding jobs. It delivers posture feedback in real time to workers, helping reduce back strain and injury risks. In an exclusive interview with BioSpectrum Asia, TacnIQ's Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aashish Mehta, shares how the company is navigating product development, adoption challenges, and regulatory compliance as it expands into global markets. Edited excerpts-

4 mins

Quantum Computing: Future of diagnostics is being coded today

A silent revolution is being built at the intersection of biology and quantum physics. After decades of pushing the boundaries of diagnostics with advanced imaging and AI, we are now approaching a hard computational wall. For complex conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and many cancers, the interacting variables of genomics, proteomics, and real-world patient data are simply too vast for classical computers to master. This limitation caps the ability to move from merely spotting correlations to uncovering true causation. Unlike traditional AI, quantum computing can simulate underlying physical systems to derive precise solutions. The transition from correlational analysis to causal simulation will enable a more valuable and advanced frontier in diagnostics.

4 mins

Collaborative R&D: Partnerships shaping the future of biopharma

Biotechs and pharma companies face rising costs of drug development, depleting R&D pipelines and diminishing returns on investment. By joining forces and exploring collaborative R&D partnerships it is possible to overcome these challenges. In addition to sharing risks, they share the potential rewards when their assets move further into clinical development or come to the market.

2 mins

HOSMAC signs MoU with Gulf Medical University to strengthen healthcare education

HOSMAC, Asia's leading hospital planning, design, and management consultancy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, UAE, to serve as an industry partner.

1 mins

National University of Singapore inks healthcare MoU with Germany's Robert Koch Institute

The Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany have entered a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on joint operations in scientific, academic and training initiatives, focusing on pandemic preparedness and public health.

1 mins

Hong Kong-Australia collaboration for advancing clinical education in physiotherapy

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently hosted the inaugural Clinical Education Conference, the first event of its kind in Hong Kong, aiming to promote the advancement of clinical education in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

1 mins

Jeong Eun Kyeong steps in as Minister of Health and Welfare, South Korea

Jeong Eun Kyeong, a South Korean infectious disease and public health expert, has been appointed to serve as the Minister of Health and Welfare.

1 mins

Bio-Rad appoints Rajat Mehta as Executive Vice President of Global Commercial Operations

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a global leader in life science research and clinical diagnostics products, has announced the appointment of Rajat Mehta as its new Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Operations, effective August 4, 2025.

1 mins

Healthium Medtech names Rajnish Damani as Group COO

India-based Healthium Medtech, a global player in medical devices, focused on products in the surgical and post-surgical ecosystem including wound closure, advanced wound care, arthroscopy and infection prevention segments, has announced the appointment of Rajnish Damani as Group Chief Operating Officer (COO).

1 mins

Jessica Cowden takes charge as Deputy Director General of CARE unit at IVI

Dr Jessica Cowden has been appointed Deputy Director General of the Clinical, Assessment, Regulatory, Evaluation (CARE) unit at South Korea-headquartered International Vaccine Institute (IVI). She will continue to be based at IVI's Europe Regional Office in Stockholm, Sweden.

1 mins

First Pacific woman to serve as public health director in NZ

The Ministry of Health in New Zealand (NZ) has appointed Dr Corina Grey as the new Director of Public Health this year, a landmark appointment for Pacific leadership.

1 mins

AusBiotech on-boards Kerri Lee Sinclair as new Head of Investment

AusBiotech has announced the appointment of Kerri Lee Sinclair as its new Head of Investment, marking a significant step in strengthening investor engagement across Australia's life sciences sector.

1 mins

Hong Kong conducts study to reshape treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma

Researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), have made a significant advancement that could reshape the treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, which often resists treatment and recurs.

1 mins

India builds nanosensor to detect deadly infections in minutes

A team of scientists at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut in India has developed a new highly sensitive, low-cost, point-of-care device with an electrochemical biosensor that could help early diagnosis of sepsis at the bedside of the patient.

1 mins

Australia designs smart wound monitor to improve chronic infection care

Researchers from Australia's RMIT University have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors that could reduce infection risks by minimising the need for frequent physical contact.

1 mins

Korea explores possibility of developing next-gen drugs for neurodegenerative diseases

Herpotrichone is a natural substance that has been evaluated highly for its excellent ability to suppress inflammation in the brain and protect nerve cells, displaying significant potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

1 mins

Japan predicts stem cell-derived organoid quality with machine learning

A research team at Kyoto University, Japan has developed a machine learning model that enables early prediction of hypothalamus-pituitary organoid formation from human Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, thus aiding organoid research and regenerative medicine.

1 mins

Singapore develops blood test to improve prediction of gestational diabetes

Researchers from the Global Centre for Asian Women's Health (GloW) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have found that selected maternal biomarkers from first-trimester random blood samples can effectively predict a woman's risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

1 mins

Shimadzu launches particle analysis system in Japan and overseas for analysis of microplastics

Shimadzu has launched a particle analysis system in Japan and overseas, specialising in the analysis of microplastics, at global scale.

1 mins

Revvity unveils innovative reagent technology to accelerate therapeutics development

US-based Revvity, Inc. has announced the launch of pHSense reagents, a powerful technology designed to advance internalisation studies in drug discovery.

1 mins

Sartorius and Nanotein ink $3 M partnership to advance cell therapy manufacturing

France headquartered Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading partner to the biopharmaceutical industry, and US-based startup Nanotein Technologies, a developer of next-generation immune cell activation reagents, have entered into a partnership.

1 mins

Thermo Fisher launches Scios 3 and Talos 12 Electron Microscopes

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of two new electron microscopes.

1 mins

Agilent expands Dako Omnis Family with 3 new models to meet evolving pathology lab needs

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced the introduction of its Agilem Dako Omnis family of instruments with three new models- Agilent Dako Omnis 110, 165, and 165 Duo- designed to meet the evolving needs of pathology laboratories of all sizes.

1 mins

DKSH acquires Eppendorf's direct presence in Thailand

DKSH has signed an agreement to acquire Eppendorf's direct business in Thailand.

1 mins

Addressing Widespread Mental Health Disorders

World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, is a global campaign designed to spotlight mental health issues and inspire collective action to improve access to care. It offers a crucial moment for governments, health professionals, advocates, and communities to showcase progress, identify gaps, and call for stronger commitments to ensure mental health support is available for everyone. The urgency is because mental health conditions remain widespread and under-treated, creating significant health, social, and economic burdens.

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.