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3 trends to drive and shape the future of digital health

A year on, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world continue to be profound. More than 90 per cent of global executives polled by McKinsey and Company believe COVID-19 will fundamentally change their businesses, and 85 per cent predict lasting changes in customers’ preferences. Being on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 has placed unparalleled demands on the healthcare industry no less – and quite possibly more – than any other sector.

Making gene therapy affordable with droplet digital PCR

Gene therapy has the potential to bring relief to millions of individuals with diseases ranging from β-thalassemia to sickle cell disease across Asia and beyond.

SINGAPORE TAKES ON CANCER WITH INNOVATIVE STREAK

Although 2020 was more focused on finding solutions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it also pushed the boundaries of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Researchers across Asia have continued to make meaningful strides against cancer in 2020. One such remarkable example is that of Singapore. The scientific community across the country is setting new examples of innovation by focusing majorly on two aspects- chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to fight this deadly disease. While the socioeconomic burden inflicted by cancer is inevitable, Singapore’s innovative streak for developing effective treatment of cancer is set to mitigate this socioeconomic impact, and help patients maintain their quality of life, and remain productive.

“We will continue to focus on high-value targets in biopharma”

Hummingbird Bioscience, an innovative clinical-stage biotech company with its APAC headquarter in Singapore, with 60 employees is focused on developing precision therapies against hard-to-drug targets via a unique data-driven systems biology approach.

Singapore Allows Use Of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine In Adolescents

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) at Singapore has extended the authorisation of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents of ages 12 to 15 years for the prevention of COVID-19.

Africa CDC Takes New Steps To Fight Covid-19

African Ministers of Health have committed to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (Africa CDC), new initiatives to double down on the ongoing continental recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is 2.16B Jabs Target Unachievable For India?

India currently is suffering from an acute shortage of vaccines, due to which various vaccination centres have had to shut down vaccinations for several days. To ease access to vaccines, the Government of India has permitted states to source COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturers across the globe.

Shineco to pick 51% stake in Taiwan's Mayah Biological

Shineco, Inc, a producer and distributor of Chinese herbal medicines, organic agricultural and hemp products, has announced that the company and Mayah Biological Holdings, a British Virgin Islands Company headquartered in Taiwan Biomedical Park, has signed a Proposal for Purchase of Equity Interest of Mayah Biological Holding Limited, with respect to the potential purchase of at least 51 per cent equity interests in Mayah Biological by Shineco.

Heated startup race is on to capture AI-driven APAC healthcare

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem in healthcare has grown in the recent past, as companies are looking to capitalise on the benefits provided by AI to improve patient outcomes and enable convenient, cost-effective access to healthcare solutions. In addition to the significant increase in digital penetration and internet connectivity, favourable government policies (e.g., China, Thailand and the Philippines) have been key driving factors of growth in health-tech startups across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. AI in the APAC healthcare market is set to grow substantially due to increasing investments by Venture Capitalists in AI healthcare startups, cross-industry partnerships and collaborations.

US approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.

Singapore advances stem cell tech to first-in-man clinical trial

Institutes and centres under the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) are joining hands together with Singapore’s first private cord blood bank, Cordlife Group Limited (Cordlife), to test a novel technology that expands the number of blood-forming stem cells from stored umbilical cord blood (UCB) in a first-in-man study in Singapore.

How leveraging intelligent data architecture fast tracks new drug launches

Clinical trials in medical and pharmaceutical research must deal with extreme amounts of diverse data which are generated across several institutions. A flexible data architecture can help shorten time to market.

AUSTRALIAN AGED CARE GETS BOOSTER DOSE

In 2017, there were 3.8 million Australians aged 65 and over (comprising 15 per cent of the total population) —increasing from 319,000 (5 per cent) in 1927 and 1.3 million (9 per cent) in 1977. The number and proportion of older Australians is expected to continue to grow. By 2057, it is projected that there will be 8.8 million older people in Australia (22 per cent of the population); by 2097, 12.8 million people (25 per cent) will be aged 65 and over according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2017. Looking at the growing trend, the government of Australia has a separate ministry for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and undertaken many steps to support them with respect, care and dignity.

Expert panel to advise WHO on spread of zoonotic diseases

International organisations have come together to launch a new One Health High-Level Expert Panel to improve understanding of how diseases with the potential to trigger pandemics, emerge and spread.

Is India's War On Covid-19 Losing Steam?

As the vaccination drive continues, India is faced with a shortage of vaccines considering the population of the country, which currently stands at a staggering 1,390,605,073, as per Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. The Indian government, to address this stark reality, has opened its doors to foreign vaccines and are fast-tracking their approval

Singapore develops test to detect mutating coronavirus

A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a diagnostic test that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations.

“We've unveiled many novel analytical workflows which can be used in developing vaccines”

Joe Fox, President, SCIEX, US

“India should focus on innovating drugs and molecules to emerge as a global leader”

S Sridhar, President, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), India

Why Life-course Immunisation cannot be ignored anymore

As the World Health Organisation says for over 200 years, vaccines have protected us against diseases that threaten lives and prohibit our development. With the help of vaccines, we can progress without the burden of diseases, which cost humanity hundreds of millions of lives. This World Immunisation Week (observed on April 24-30) is a reminder that vaccines work – not just against COVID-19 but also in protecting people of all ages against various other diseases.

“Respond, Recover and Reimagine are vital in any crisis and have often not been the focus of a preparation strategy”

Antonio De Castro, Senior Industry Consultant, Global Health and Life Sciences Practice, SAS Health, Singapore

Sanofi's $480M vaccine plant to set new benchmark in manufacturing agility

Sanofi Pasteur is gearing up with a series of investments into its global vaccine manufacturing network to tackle the future pandemics using futuristic manufacturing capabilities ensuring quality and scale.

Hong Kong links hyocholic acids with diabetes treatment

A series of studies led by researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have revealed that hyocholic acid and its derivatives (collectively known as HCAs), a component of bile acids that facilitate fat digestion, are a promising risk indicator of type 2 diabetes.

FAKE DRUGS - BOOM PUMMELS PHARMA INDUSTRY

Fake pharmaceuticals are continuing to flood into clinics and hospitals across Asia despite monitored regulations in China and India, when suppliers crossing the border to less-regulated countries. Counterfeiters are moving across certain less regulated locations in Southeast Asia to sustain the trade. Pharmaceutical industry is committed and thriving to sustain and secure the legitimate supply chain. Given the complexity of the supply chain, this is an essential, but laborious effort that requires an efficient, multi-faceted strategy. A holistic approach comprising the use of concealed and unconcealed anti-counterfeiting features, a well-regulated, secure supply chain and appropriate laws and penalties to deter and punish counterfeiters is necessary to provide maximum patient protection.

Bioreactor sales upsurge with ramped-up COVID-19 vaccine production

Hrishikesh Kadam, Senior Research Content Developer, Global Market Insights, India

Seegene's New Covid-19 Test Can Recognize 10 Virus Variants

Seegene, a South Korea based biotechnology company specializing in molecular diagnostics, has finished the development of the world’s first-ever variant diagnostic test that can simultaneously detect COVID-19 and screen multiple virus variants, with a single multiplex real-time PCR testing.

UK Grants Additional Funds To Vaccines Manufacturing Centre

The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) has been granted an additional £47.6 million by the UK government to support the expansion and acceleration of the programme.

Argentina Launches Digital Services For Pandemic Management

The Argentina government has presented new digital services for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country: the Cuidar Escuelas platform, for registering suspected and confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in educational establishments; the digital vaccination card against the disease and the registry so that the personnel, who work in educational institutions can register their wish to receive the vaccine.

Japan To Create New Services For Clinical Trials, Drug Development

National Cancer Center Japan (NCCJ), established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has entered into a partnership with Fujitsu to explore ways that real-world data, including medical information from electronic records, can be leveraged to contribute to the development of new drugs, clinical trials, and preventive medicine in pharmaceutical companies.

Big Pharma Re-Hash Medical Marijuana

Known to the world by many names, Marijuana, Cannabis, MJ, Pot, weed or Ganjika in Sanskrit and Ganja in Hindi, this ancient plant has been known to the ancient Indians and Chinese for its medicinal benefits.

India Forms New Partnership To Push Healthcare Innovations

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a government of India’s flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country, has partnered with Aster DM Healthcare to support proactively the mission’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country with an aim to change and improve health care innovations and outcomes.