Business
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
DKSH acquires Eppendorf's direct presence in Thailand
DKSH has signed an agreement to acquire Eppendorf's direct business in Thailand.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
Thermo Fisher launches Scios 3 and Talos 12 Electron Microscopes
Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of two new electron microscopes.
1 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Sep 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
"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 min |