Business
BioSpectrum Asia
Hong Kong launches gene- related therapy trials to eradicate chronic hepatitis B infection
Researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), have initiated multiple clinical trials exploring pioneering generelated therapy for chronic hepatitis B infection, potentially allowing patients to discontinue long-term medication.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
TVM Capital Healthcare on-boards Dr Su-Lin Chong as Operating Partner in Malaysia
TVM Capital Healthcare, a leading international healthcare private equity firm and operator focused on emerging markets, has announced the appointment of Dr Su-Lin Chong as Operating Partner and Investment Committee member.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Korea-Israel partnership to commercialise injectable treatment for focal fat reduction
365mc, South Korea's leading medical institution specialising in fat reduction treatments, and Israel-based Raziel Therapeutics, a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, have announced a strategic collaboration to jointly advance the clinical and commercial development of RZL-012 in South Korea.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Torrent Pharma buys controlling stake in JB Pharma from KKR for Rs 25,689 Cr valuation
India-based Torrent Pharmaceuticals and global investment firm KKR have announced that Torrent has entered into definitive agreements to acquire controlling stake in J. B. Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals from KKR at an Equity Valuation of Rs 25,689 crore (on fully diluted basis), followed by a merger of the two entities.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Hyphens Pharma introduces acne treatment 'Winlevi' in Singapore and Malaysia
Hyphens Pharma, a subsidiary of Hyphens Pharma International Limited, Singapore’s leading specialty pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare group, has announced the launch of Winlevi (clascoterone) cream 1 per cent in Singapore and Malaysia, marking its first entry into Southeast Asia.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
WHO recommends injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapavir (LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention, in a landmark policy action that could help reshape the global HIV response.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
PHC announces exclusive distribution of MaxCyte EXPERT platform in Japan
The Biomedical Division of Japan-based PHC Corporation (PHCbi), a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (PHCHD), has signed an exclusive agreement with MaxCyte, Inc. to distribute the MaxCyte EXPERT platform in Japan.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
WHO launches bold push to raise health taxes and save millions of lives
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a major new initiative urging countries to raise real prices on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50 per cent by 2035 through health taxes in a move designed to curb chronic diseases and generate critical public revenue.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
UK launches multi-billion- pound compute roadmap for healthcare and other sectors
Quicker health diagnoses, smarter energy supplies, tackling climate change and improved public service delivery - just some huge potential benefits of the new compute roadmap, launched by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
"HSA is adopting a forward-looking 5P Strategy to tackle challenges"
Adjunct Professor (Dr) Raymond Chua, who stepped into his role as CEO of Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in December 2024, outlines the agency’s current priorities in positioning Singapore as a regional hub for biotech and medtech innovation.
6 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Japan engineers functional liver organoids with organspecific vasculature
Liver organoids with proper blood vessel networks have been successfully produced, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the US.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Korea supports international patients through medical sharing programme
The Korea International Medical Association, represented by Chairman Young Tae Kim, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, led by President Soon Do Cha, and GS Retail, represented by CEO Seo Hong Heo.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Thermo Fisher introduces new assay to help advance future of precision medicine
US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay Plus is now available on the Ion Torrent Genexus System helping accelerate precision oncology research.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Emergency vaccine response cuts infectious disease deaths by nearly 60%
Researchers at Burnet Institute, in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have provided the world’s first ever look at the historical impact of emergency vaccination efforts on public health and global health security, with a comprehensive study of 210 outbreaks of five infectious diseases- cholera, ebola, measles, meningitis and yellow fever, in 49 lower-income countries between 2000 and 2023.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
JCR Pharma licenses gene therapy platform to AstraZeneca Rare Disease unit for $825 M
Japan's JCR Pharmaceuticals has entered into a license agreement with Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, for JCR’s new, proprietary JUST-AAV capsids to develop genomic medicines.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
China approves world's first dual GCG/GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss
Innovent Biologics, Inc. has announced that China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved mazdutide, a first-in-class dual glucagon (GCG)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, for chronic weight management in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
ASEAN has become an imtportant fulcrum in the global pharmaceutical production supply chain
Asia-based BioDlink, a full-service Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) specialising in biologics and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), has built a strong track record over the past decade, offering integrated solutions from early-stage R&D to commercial manufacturing.
4 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Radiopharmaceutical Blockade: Manufacturing and Access Challenges in Australia
Australia is well positioned to become a global player in radiopharmaceuticals, especially theranostics that combine diagnosis and targeted therapy.
3 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
AN Venture Partners announces one of the largest Japan focused biotech funds to date
AN Venture Partners (ANV), a global biotech venture capital firm, has announced the final close of its first fund, AN Venture Partners I, LP, achieving its target of $200 million (JPY29 billion), one of the largest Japan-focused biotech venture capital funds to date, and also one of the largest first-time biotech venture capital funds raised in the past year.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Country wise analysis of startups with funds raising
Asia-Pacific is home to 9,905 active life sciences startups, as of July 20, 2025, according to Tracxn.
2 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Resurging Funding Catapults APAC BIOTECH STARTUPS
Asia-Pacific's biotech startup scene is on the cusp of a renaissance. After a tough 2024 marked by shrinking venture capital, 2025 is showing revived investor enthusiasm and a rebound in funding- especially for oncology, gene therapy, and Al-driven drug discovery. With 9,905 life sciences startups now active across the region, APAC Countries are leveraging scientific innovation, government support, and new incubators to move beyond service roles and develop world-class therapeutic assets. Let's take a closer look at Asia's startup ecosystem, evolution of investor sentiment over the past few years, and buoying biotech areas.
10 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
HanchorBio signs $200 M deal with Shanghai Henlius Biotech to expand immuno-oncology reach
HanchorBio Inc., a Taiwan-based biotechnology startup developing innovative immunotherapies for oncology and autoimmune diseases, has announced the signing of a major out-licensing agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Merck unveils AAW workstation to advance lab automation
Merck, a leading science and technology company, has launched the Automated Assay Workstation (AAW), a solution powered by Opentrons, a leader in lab automation and accessible robotics.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
The Tariff Turmoil UpsideMore International Partnerships
If there's anything good to come from the tariff turmoil, it is that countries have rediscovered the importance of collaboration, international partnerships and market diversification to drive innovation. It's a point I heard repeatedly at the BIO Asia-Taiwan conference in Taipei last month (July 23 - 27, 2025). In the upended global trade order, where foe is friend and everyone else gets tariffed, it's hardly surprising we're looking to a broader suite of markets to provide some resilience and certainty to our life science innovation endeavours.
3 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Illimis Therapeutics raises $42 M to accelerate CNS and immune disease drug development
South Korea-based startup Illimis Therapeutics has announced the closing of 58 billion KRW ($42 million) Series B financing to accelerate CNS and immune disease drug development via GAIA platform.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Indian firm Biological E partners with China's Recbio to produce HPV9 vaccine
Jiangsu Recbio Technology, a leading Chinese biopharmaceutical company, has entered into a licensing cooperation agreement, and have commenced the technology transfer of their Recombinant 9-valent HPV (HPV9) vaccine, REC603, to Biological E. Limited BE, a leading Indian vaccine and pharmaceutical company.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
China's Innovative Approach to Universal Health Coverage
China has successfully implemented various medical insurance reforms and development tasks under five principles including promoting equity and accessibility, the rule of law, technological empowerment, coordinated development and safeguarding the security of the fund during the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan (the 2021-2025 period).
2 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Researchers in India design simple sensor for liver cancer detection
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have developed a unique luminescent probe that uses terbium, a rare earth metal, to sense the presence of an enzyme called ẞ-glucuronidase, which can potentially aid in the detection of liver cancer.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Epsilon Healthcare appoints Daniel Kaplon as CFO
Australia-based Epsilon Healthcare has announced the appointment of Daniel Kaplon to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia August 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
WuXi Biologics launches next-generation platform for high-concentration biologics
WuXi Biologics, a leading global Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO) in China, has announced the launch of WuXiHigh 2.0, a high-throughput formulation development platform designed for high concentration biologics.
1 min |