BioSpectrum Asia Magazine - November 2022

In this issue

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 regionspecific 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.

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.

1 min

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

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

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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).

1 min

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.

1 min

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).

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

1 min

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.

10+ mins

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.

10 mins

“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.

5 mins

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.

4 mins

Read all stories from BioSpectrum Asia

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine Description:

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine is a monthly magazine published by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communication in India. It is a leading biotechnology magazine in Asia, covering a wide range of topics related to the biotechnology industry, including:

* Biotechnology news and trends: BioSpectrum Asia covers the latest biotechnology news and trends from India and around the world.
* Biotechnology company profiles and interviews: The magazine profiles leading biotechnology companies in Asia and interviews their CEOs and other top executives.
* Biotechnology research and development: BioSpectrum Asia covers the latest biotechnology research and development from academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
* Biotechnology product reviews: The magazine reviews the latest biotechnology products and services.
* Biotechnology industry events: BioSpectrum Asia covers biotechnology industry events from around the world.

BioSpectrum Asia Magazine is a must-read for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest advances in biotechnology and their potential to impact the world around us.