WHO inks new MoU on health workforce priorities

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the five members of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), World Dental Federation (FDI),

WHO to identify pathogens likely to cause future outbreaks and pandemics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens, agents that can cause outbreaks or pandemics, to guide global investment, research and development (R&D), especially in vaccines, tests and treatments.

Global health agencies support Uganda against outbreak of Ebolavirus disease

Following the declaration of an Ebola outbreak in Uganda on September 20, 2022, the outbreak has now spread to seven districts (Kasanda, Kyegegwa, Bunyangabu and Kagadi districts beyond the original epicentre in Mubende district, and then to Kampala City and Wakiso).

Oral cholera vaccine receives manufacturing push for African & global markets

South Africa based biopharmaceutical company Biovac has concluded a ground-breaking licensing and technology transfer agreement with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a non-profit international organisation headquartered in South Korea, for the manufacture of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV).

Tackling emerging antimalarial drug resistance in Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new strategy to respond to the urgent problem of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa.

New Dutch Global Health Strategy calls for stronger cooperation

The Netherlands discussed its new strategy for Global Health with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and called for deeper coordination with the organisation to improve global health – aiming to strengthen health systems at home and worldwide, better prepare for pandemics and address the impact of climate change on public health.

Improved provision of mental health services to benefit Lithuanian youth

Strengthened governance and delivery of mental health services will improve the well-being of young people in Lithuania, according to a new World Bank report.

Lunit accelerates AI-powered medical imaging across major overseas channels

South Korea-based startup Lunit has signed a global distribution agreement with Indian firm CARPL.ai, an end-to-end healthcare technology platform that enables the development, validation, and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions across clinical workflows.

Qmed Asia eyes APAC expansion with digital health solutions

Malaysian startup Qmed Asia has announced regional expansion into Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia to introduce value-added services to healthcare segments and patients in the form of innovative digital health solutions that are accessible, affordable, and reliable.

RVAC Medicines, A*STAR to build capabilities for mRNA production in Singapore

RVAC Medicines, a messenger RNA (mRNA) technology platform startup incubated by CBC Group, a healthcare-dedicated asset management firm headquartered in Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have announced the signing of a master research collaboration agreement to jointly study and develop solutions to build mRNA manufacturing and analytics capabilities in Singapore.

ANDHealth, LaunchVic launch Digital Health Accelerator in Australia

ANDHealth, Australia’s leading digital health commercialisation organisation, has successfully secured $1.4 million in funding from LaunchVic to establish a novel accelerator programme for high growth potential digital health startups.

MIRXES announces Southeast Asia's first business and clinical advisory programme

MiRXES, a Singapore-headquartered biotechnology startup focused on saving lives and improving health economics and outcomes through RNA-powered disease early detection and precision genomic tests, has launched the first edition of MiRXES Translator Programme,

Medtronic launches Customer eXperience Center in Singapore

Medtronic plc, a global leader in healthcare technology, has launched the Medtronic Customer eXperience Center (MCXC) in Singapore, leveraging innovative healthcare technologies across extended reality (XR), augmented and virtual realities, and robotics, to connect the global healthcare community from anywhere, at any time.

QPS opens new preclinical research facility in Taiwan

QPS, a global contract research organisation headquartered in the US, has opened a second preclinical research facility in Taipei, Taiwan.

Boston Scientific expands operations in Malaysia

Boston Scientific Corporation, a global leader in medical device technology, has unveiled a new expansion of its operations in Batu Kawan, Penang, Malaysia.

XtalPi, CK Life Sciences announce AIempowered tumour vaccine R&D in China

Chinese firm XtalPi is embarking on a strategic collaboration with CK Life Sciences, a member of the CK Hutchison Group.

Astellas invests $50M to support gene therapy programmes of Taysha

Japan-based Astellas Pharma Inc. and Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. have announced a strategic investment to support the advancement of Taysha’s adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy development programmes for the treatment of Rett syndrome and Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN).

GSK launches S$44M HPF in Singapore for cancer treatment

The global biopharma company GSK plc has launched a new, S$44 million high potency facility (HPF) in its strategic New Product Introduction site in Jurong, Singapore.

CSIRO partnership helps connect Australian healthcare system

The Australian Digital Health Agency and Australia’s national science agency, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)’s

New Zealand provides snapshot of nation's health with new survey results

The annual New Zealand Health Survey results provide valuable information about the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Brunei's Ministry of Health opens intelligence hub in Jerudong

The Ministry of Health (MoH), Brunei Darussalam and Singapore-based EVYD Technology have announced the official opening of the MoH Intelligence Hub at EVYD Campus in Jerudong.

India announces launch of Bengaluru Science & Technology Cluster

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Sood recently launched Bengaluru Science & Technology Cluster (BeST).

Hugel's Letybo from Korea obtains marketing approval in Australia

Hugel, a South Korea-based medical aesthetics company, has obtained marketing approval for 50 and 100 units of its botulinum toxin called ‘Letybo’ for the indication of glabellar lines from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.

Who Needs Next Gen Vax Tech?

The COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time. As the novel’ coronavirus mutates, the vaccine makers, too, are adapting by innovating vaccine technologies. Researchers continue to work, aiming for more potent immunity, reduced transmissibility, cheaper manufacturing, easier transport, and mutation-targeted vaccines. The novel vaccine models may facilitate rapid and effective responses to new infectious diseases, allergies, autoimmune conditions, and cancers. Vaccination programmes can be more cost-effective and efficient by achieving global outreach, maintaining vaccine potency, and optimising logistics, thus increasing global preparedness for future pandemics and disease outbreaks. Let’s explore some of the latest advancements in vaccine technology which emerged in the era of COVID-19.

India Unveils Tele Mental Health Assistance And Networking Across States

Establishing a new milestone in the field of mental health on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS), an initiative of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has been launched in the country.

WHO issues new framework to strengthen collaborative action onTB and comorbidities

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is launching a new framework for collaborative action on tuberculosis (TB) and comorbidities to address the limited uptake of collaborative activities to reduce the burden of TB and comorbidities and to support countries in enabling access to peoplecentred care.

Sierra Leone adds HPV jabs to routine immunisation schedule

In a move to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, the government of Sierra Leone, in West Africa, has introduced the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule and launched the start of a campaign to reach 153,991 girls with the vaccine.

Gavi inks agreement with Moderna for COVID-19 vaccine supply to LICs

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has signed an agreement with Moderna related to the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to lower-income countries (LICs) supported by the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

NousQ receives $175K grand prize for paediatric ear tube insertion device

MedTech Innovator, the largest accelerator of medical devices in the world, in partnership with Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed), the first and only regional association to provide a unified voice for the medical technology industry, has announced NousQ as the winner of the 2022 Asia Pacific Accelerator programme.

Pfizer acquires Australian startup ResApp Health for 179 M

US-based Pfizer has acquired University of Queensland (UQ) startup ResApp Health Limited for $179 million. ResApp, an ASX-listed company based in Brisbane, has developed simple and inexpensive smartphone technology that can accurately identify respiratory diseases based on cough analysis.