Business
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
"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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
'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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |
BioSpectrum Asia Nov 2025
BioSpectrum Asia
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 min |