Deep Bio explores AI support for prostate cancer diagnosis

South Korea-based startup Deep Bio Inc. has announced that it will sign trial purchase agreements with five Korean hospitals for its artificial intelligence (AI)-based prostate cancer diagnosis support software, DeepDx-Prostate Pro, through the Public Procurement Marketplace programme run by the Korean Public Procurement Service (PPS).

Rx Propellant plans Rs 3k Cr investment to build life sciences lab spaces in India

Rx Propellant, an Actis portfolio company and India’s leading life sciences infrastructure and cluster developers, has announced the launch of 9 lakh sq ft of lab spaces in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India.

Simcere, Almirall ink S492 M deal for treating autoimmune diseases

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, an innovation and R&D-driven pharmaceutical company, and Almirall S.A, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health; have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for Simcere’s IL-2 mutant fusion protein (IL-2 mu-Fc) autoimmune drug candidate, SIM0278.

Samsung Biologics unlocks additional capacity for production at newest Plant 4

Samsung Biologics, South Korea-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has announced that its Plant 4, the world’s largest single bio manufacturing plant, has commenced GMP operations in October 2022.

Fujitsu Asia and A*STAR to advance Al-based healthcare & medical technologies

Singapore based Fujitsu Asia Private Limited (FAPL) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have signed a master research collaboration agreement for joint projects to accelerate the R&D of artificial intelligence (AI) and converging technology solutions around healthcare and medical applications.

Biocon out-licences 2 biosimilar assets for commercialisation in Japan

Indian firm Biocon Biologics has entered into a strategic out-licensing agreement with Japanese pharmaceuticals company Yoshindo Inc. for commercialising two of its pipeline biosimilar assets, bUstekinumab and bDenosumab, in the Japanese market.

Telix Pharma adds new PET imaging radiotracers to GE Healthcare’s portfolio

Australia-based Telix Pharmaceutical has announced a collaborative development and reseller agreement with GE Healthcare to supply its investigational positron emission tomography (PET) imaging radiotracers, TLX250CDx (89Zr-DFO-girentuximab), and [18F]-FLac (18F-3-fluoro2-hydroxypropionate) for use in third party clinical research and development activities.

Japan approves Medtronic’s robotic-assisted surgery system

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) has given its approval for Medtronic’s urologic surgical and gynaecologic laparoscopic indications in Japan.

Taiwan and Japan hold deliberations on medical products regulation

Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) with Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) hosted the 10th Joint Conference of Taiwan and Japan on Medical Products Regulation on October 20, 2022.

Australia pledges $25M for dementia, ageing and aged care research

The Australian government has announced $25 million for dementia, ageing and aged care research.

First satellite bioanalytical lab offers fastest option for PBMC processing in Australian clinical trials

On 09 September 2022, Australia will welcome its first ever bioanalytical laboratory inside a Phase 1 clinical unit.

Invincible Diabetes Turns APAC Into Pharma Goldmine“?

There are over 235 million diabetic patients in Asia. China and India account for almost half of the world’s diabetic population. By 2030, without intervention, both China and India combined will have nearly half a billion diabetics. These are grim figures but for pharma firms, they represent a huge opportunity, and big pharma firms are spending billions in search of the next blockbuster drug for diabetes, according to the estimates from Singapore-based Asian Diabetes Prevention Initiative (ADPI). The diabetes care drugs market is highly fragmented in Asia Pacific (APAC) region with a few major manufacturers gaining presence in major countries of the APAC market, while the remaining market comprises other local or region specific manufacturers. Mergers and acquisitions that happened between players in the recent past helped companies strengthen their market presence, as well as drive innovations, helping the diabetes drugs market to increase in the APAC region. Let’s look at who owns the more significant piece of the pie and the competitive landscape of diabetes treatment in the region.

BioSpectrum Asia sets the tone for Excellence Awards 2022 on December 2 in Singapore

To appreciate the Asian companies and individuals for their commendable performance and achievements during Calendar Year (CY) 2021, and noting that Asia is the new hub for potential growth and innovation, BioSpectrum Asia is setting the tone for an exciting opportunity in the form of BioSpectrum Asia Excellence Awards 2022.

“We are seeing a shift towards localisation of supply chains from innovation to manufacturing and production’

For developers of cell and gene therapies (CGT), translating a drug from a biologic concept to a scalable and manufacturable F(CGT), translating a drug from a biological concept to a scalable and manufacturable treatment can be the largest challenge in achieving commercial success.

Insilico Medicine raises $95M from Aramco’s Prosperity7 Ventures

Hong Kong-based startup Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, has completed a second closing of its Series D round, led by Prosperity7 Ventures, the diversified growth fund of Aramco Ventures, bringing the total Series D financing to $95 million.

Carlyle to invest ¥7B, pick up minority stake in Japanese MedTech CureApp

Global investment firm Carlyle has announced a strategic partnership with CureApp, Inc., a leading Japanese medical technology startup and prescription digital therapeutics provider, through an acquisition of a significant minority stake in the company.

Everest Medicines, Gilead announce $455M oncology deal for Asian rights

China-based Everest Medicines has entered into an agreement with Immunomedics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of California-based Gilead Sciences, Inc., whereby Immunomedics will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) in Greater China, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Mongolia.

Wipro GE Healthcare & Boston Scientific to offer advanced heart care in India

Wipro GE Healthcare, a medical technology, diagnostics and digital solutions innovator, has announced its collaboration with Boston Scientific, a medical device manufacturer to provide end-to-end innovative interventional cardiac care solutions in India.

AstraZeneca signs MoU to empower breast cancer community in Singapore

AstraZeneca Singapore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) to improve the overall breast cancer awareness, detection rates, and patients’ access to breast cancer treatment in Singapore.

NZ evaluates Māori Influenza and Measles vaccination programme of 2021

The Ministry of Health in New Zealand, which oversees the Maori Influenza and Measles Vaccination Programme (MIMVP) has released a report on its findings for 2021, identifying which initiatives worked and what could be improved in future.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine receives approval for adolescents in Asian region

Novavax’s manufacturing partnership with Serum Institute of India

Singapore grants interim authorisation for AstraZeneca's antiviral mAb Evusheld

ANTIBIOTIC

India approves Corbevax as first heterologous COVID-19 booster shot for 18+

ANOTHER IMMUNITY VACCINE

Autoimmune Diseases - Taming The Enemy Within

Autoimmune diseases are one of the hot targets in the pharma industry. There has been a flurry of activities in this space in recent times. While immunosuppressants and steroids have typically been used to treat these diseases, targeted therapies are advancing. By aiming at specific genes or cells, researchers can boost effectiveness and reduce side effects associated with conventional treatments. Let’s look at some of the advances in the battle against autoimmune diseases:

Expanding Toolbox Spurring Opportunities

Synthetic biology encompasses myriad technologies combining life sciences, engineering, and chemistry to improve, optimise, or enable the de novo design of artificial cells, organisms and cellular pathways.

'Lack of sufficient capacity is a greatest challenge facing the biomanufacturing industry today'

Univercells Technologies, incorporated in Belgium in 2020 with the support of the Univercells group, is a global provider of innovative biomanufacturing technologies to achieve cost-effective viral production from R&D to commercial scales.

'Growing demand for low-cost remote patient monitoring services, CIS & EMRs will propel digital healthcare platform adoption'

On July 25, 2022, Healthcare Triangle, Inc (HCT), a healthcare information technology company focused on cloud innovative solutions, data science, and data analytics platforms for the healthcare and life sciences industry announced the launch of its Singapore unit with a focus to bolster digital healthcare in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific.

'Asia is constantly strengthening its digitisation and connectivity, making it an attractive market to invest in'

Eppendorf, a leading global company, catering instruments, consumables, solutions and services for life science institutes and businesses worldwide recently inaugurated its new subsidiary in Singapore’s Biopolis Science Centre.

INCUBATORS IGNITING BIOSCIENCE ECOSYSTEM

Incubators and accelerators are driving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Asia through the development of novel therapeutics and encouraging innovations and commercialisation. Biotechnology incubators provide a stimulating environment that attracts investors, talent, and companies to collaborate on research, thereby fostering industry growth. While the appetite for laboratory space is constantly growing among biotech ventures, countries in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region are actively investing to construct life science hubs that foster innovation strategies and strengthen R&D capabilities. Let’s explore prominent startup incubators and accelerators in key APAC economies that are cultivating biotech innovations to create unicorns.

Drones - Providing Succour By UAVs

Drone technology has ceased to be just a mere fanciful and impractical aspect of Hollywood blockbusters, making headway into almost every aspect of modern industries and services. Naturally, healthcare isn’t far behind in leveraging this nifty and reliable tech to its advantage. Let’s see how deep has been the penetration of this aerial supply chain wonder gadget.