Business
BioSpectrum Asia
US FDA halts new clinical trials that export Americans' cells for genetic experiments
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an immediate review of new clinical trials that involve sending American citizens' living cells to China and other hostile countries for genetic engineering and subsequent infusion back into US patients, sometimes without their knowledge or consent.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
New Zealand grants approval to prescribe psilocybin for treatmentresistant depression
Medsafe, New Zealand's regulator of medicines and medical devices, has given approval for psychiatrists to prescribe medicinal psilocybin for treating treatment-resistant depression.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Lupin, Sino Universal ink license and supply agreement for Tiotropium DPI in China
Indian pharma major Lupin has signed a license and supply agreement with Sino Universal Pharmaceuticals (SUP), for the commercialisation of Tiotropium Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI), 18 mcg/capsule, in the Chinese market, for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Brain Navi achieves US FDA approval for neurosurgical robot NaoTrac
Brain Navi Biotechnology, a medical robotics company founded in 2015 in Taiwan by surgeon and serial entrepreneur Jerry Chen, has reached another major milestone.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Korea Smart Healthcare Association to build next-gen medical platform
The Korea Smart Healthcare Association and SL Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership aimed at advancing Korea's medical technology innovation and enhancing global public health.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
WHO calls for global expansion of midwifery models of care
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidance to help countries adopt and expand midwifery models of care - where midwives serve as the main care provider for women and babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
PolyActiva secures AUD $40 M in Series C to advance ocular drug delivery
Australia-based PolyActiva, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel drug delivery technology to improve outcomes for patients with ocular conditions, has secured AUD $40 million in Series C funding.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
“APAC is dynamic and rapidly evolving, with tremendous growth in R&D and attractive market conditions”
With cell and gene therapy (CGT) representing a major advancement in medical treatments by directly targeting the root causes of diseases at the cellular or genetic level, GlobalData’s latest report predicts the CGT market to be worth $76 billion by 2030.
5 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
“The burden on medical and long- term care systems due to ageing is expected to intensify in Japan”
Japan-headquartered Asahi Kasei has appointed Ken Shinomiya, President of Asahi Kasei Life Science, as the Leader of its Healthcare Sector in April this year. Under Shinomiya, Asahi Kasei’s Healthcare Sector plans to further advance its portfolio and global presence of pharmaceuticals, life science, and critical care products and services. BioSpectrum Asia took this opportunity to interact with the new leader to find out more about the company’s growth plans within Japan and internationally. Edited excerpts:
4 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Singapore launches national Familial Hypercholesterolaemia genetic testing programme
The Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore government, has launched the national Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing programme on June 30, 2025, as part of its broader strategy to enhance preventive care in Singapore.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
PacBio expands distribution in China gaining access to new clinical lab networks
PacBio, a leading provider of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing solutions, has announced the appointment of Haorui Gene, a globally recognised leader in blood typing genomics, as an official distributor in China.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Taiwan's biotech gathers momentum
Leader: Backed by coordinated efforts from both government and industry, Taiwan's biotechnology sector is expanding steadily, with revenues reaching approximately $23.3 billion in 2023. The industry is positioning itself as an important player in the global biotech value chain. But what will it take for Taiwan to grow into a $32 billion biotech economy? Let's find out.
7 min |
BioSpectrum Asia July 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
GHIT Fund invests $4.5 M to develop diagnostics for TB
Japan-based Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has announced an investment of approximately JPY 679 million ($4.5 million) for the development of diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB); in addition to an investment of approximately JPY 15.9 million ($0.1 million) for a drug discovery project for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis (by Kitasato University, Nagasaki University, University of Tokyo, and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Beyond the Algorithm: Why MedComms Still Need Human Pulse
In an industry, now shaped by artificial intelligence (AI)-driven efficiencies and machine-generated drafts, it's natural to wonder: Is the medical communicator (MedComm) becoming obsolete?
5 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
WHO and Medicines Patent Pool announce sublicensing agreement for RDT technology
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) have announced a sublicensing agreement between MPP and a Nigerian health technology company, Codix Bio, to start development and manufacturing of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) using technology transferred from global in-vitro diagnostics company – SD Biosensor.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Oliver Healthcare Packaging opens manufacturing facility in Malaysia
Oliver Healthcare Packaging, a leading healthcare company driving quality and innovation in medical packaging, has opened its new 120,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
UK to roll out Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth programme
Expectant mothers will receive safer maternity care as a new National Health Service (NHS) programme to help prevent brain injury during childbirth is rolled out across the country.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Nursing workforce grows, inequities threaten global health goals: WHO
The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in the availability of nurses remain across regions and countries, according to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN) and partners.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
ekincare raises strategic investment from MSD IDEA Studio Asia Pacific
ekincare, India’s leading artificial intelligence (AI)-powered integrated digital health gateway, has announced the raising of a strategic, undisclosed investment led by global healthcare leader MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA) through MSD IDEA Studio Asia Pacific, an initiative by the MSD Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF).
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Lotus Pharma inks $125 M deal with LENZ Therapeutics to commercialise presbyopia treatment
US-based LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. and Taiwan's Lotus Pharmaceutical have announced an exclusive license and commercialisation agreement for Lotus to commercialise LNZ100 for the treatment of presbyopia in the Republic of Korea and certain countries in Southeast Asia.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Emerging GCC Hotspots in APAC: Spotlight on Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is now a top choice for Life Sciences and Healthcare (LSHC) multinationals to establish their Global Capability Centres (GCCs). India leads with over 100 GCCs, while countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines offer cost-effective advantages.
5 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Korea steps up support for expanding traditional medicine overseas
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), government of South Korea and the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development (NIKOM) have selected seven new medical institutions for the Traditional Korean Medicine Overseas Expansion Support Programme, with three for overseas expansion and four for attracting Chinese patients.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
HKBU and Shanghai Industrial Investment to advance medical education and research
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holdings) Co Ltd (SIIC) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at leveraging their respective strengths to advance the proposed establishment of Hong Kong's third medical school, contributing to Hong Kong's development into an international hub for medical training, research, and innovation.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Singapore approves Dupixent as first-ever biologic medicine for COPD
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore has approved Dupixent (dupilumab) for adults as an add-on maintenance treatment for uncontrolled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterised by raised blood eosinophils who are on a stable combination of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA), and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), or on a combination of a LABA and a LAMA if ICS is not appropriate.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Australia starts world- first immunotherapy trial to treat Type 1 diabetes
Researchers at The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia have dosed 5 participants in the first clinical trial of a potentially revolutionary immunotherapy drug to treat Type 1 diabetes.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Syncell unveils new partner network expanding commercial capabilities in Taiwan
Taiwan-based Syncell, a leader in next-generation subcellular protein purification and spatial proteomics analysis, has announced the launch of their preferred partner network.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
SK bioscience joins Korea's national initiative to develop Avian Influenza Vaccine
SK bioscience has been selected for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)'s Priority Infectious Disease Pandemic Preparedness Rapid R&D Support Programme.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Korea develops retinal therapy to restore lost vision
Researchers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have successfully developed a novel drug to restore vision.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Intco Medical launches Syntex synthetic disposable latex gloves in China
Intco Medical, based in China, has announced the global launch of its exclusive patented Syntex Synthetic Disposable Latex Gloves product.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia June 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Africa CDC and Unitaid partner to strengthen equitable access to health products in Africa
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Unitaid have formed a new strategic partnership to expand the production of essential health products in Africa and improve sustainable access to medicines, diagnostics, and medical oxygen across the continent.
1 min |