BioSpectrum Asia - October 2023

In this issue

Big Pharma Sets Sights on Middle East
The Middle East, traditionally renowned for its prominence in the travel and oil and gas industries, is shifting its focus towards the life sciences sector. The region is actively forging numerous partnerships, initiatives, and programmes, and spending billions to establish itself as a major hub for life sciences. As the population of the region continues to grow and age, there is a clear and growing demand for locally manufactured medical treatments and products. Big pharma players are also making substantial inroads into the Middle East, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),
Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading the way in these regional efforts. Areas such as rare diseases, genomics, personalised medicines, and pharmaceutical manufacturing have emerged as hotspots in the Middle East. Let’s delve deeper
into the region’s endeavours to become a biotech powerhouse.

A LITHIUM CRISIS

It may sound strange, but it is going to be a car battery versus medicine conflict, at least in Japan. Recent news reports from Japan indicate the possibility of shortage of some life saving drugs due to growing use of electric vehicles. So, the dilemma is, do we want clean air at the cost of the suffering of some patients? This dilemma is caused by Lithium, also known as white gold.

2 mins

SK bioscience, Vaxxas collaborate to develop needle-free patch delivery platform of typhoid vaccine

South Korea-based SK bioscience has entered into a collaboration agreement with Vaxxas, an Australian biotechnology company developing a unique vaccine patch platform technology, to develop a second-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine with support from Wellcome.

1 min

Big Pharma Sets Sights on Middle East

The Middle East, traditionally renowned for its prominence in the travel and oil and gas industries, is shifting its focus towards the life sciences sector. The region is actively forging numerous partnerships, initiatives, and programmes, and spending billions to establish itself as a major hub for life sciences. As the population of the region continues to grow and age, there is a clear and growing demand for locally manufactured medical treatments and products. Big pharma players are also making substantial inroads into the Middle East, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading the way in these regional efforts. Areas such as rare diseases, genomics, personalised medicines, and pharmaceutical manufacturing have emerged as hotspots in the Middle East. Let’s delve deeper into the region’s endeavours to become a biotech powerhouse.

10+ mins

"Regulatory reforms and incentives implemented by Middle Eastern countries have simplified market entry for life sciences companies"

In May 2023, Virax Biolabs Group Limited, a UK-based diagnostics company specialising in viral disease detection and immune response diagnosis, inaugurated its regional headquarters at Dubai Science Park. This strategic move aims to facilitate the company’s expansion into the Middle East, enhance global operations through the attraction of local partnerships and talent. James Foster, CEO of Virax elaborates on the significance of this move and why the Middle East is an appealing destination for life sciences firms. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

Is APAC Edging Closer to Clinical Application of Single-cell Tech?

Asia Pacific APAC) is expected to be a major contributor to the growth of single cell technology as the market is driven by factors such as the growing demand for personalised medicine, advancements in sequencing technologies, and the increasing use of single cell analysis in drug discovery. While Japan is currently the fastest-growing country in the APAC single-cell analysis market, Singapore, China, and India are showing significant progress in adopting this technology.

6 mins

"By harnessing the power of single-cell analysis, we can gain deeper understanding of various NCDs"

Single cell analysis is revolutionising fundamental biological research, paving the way for effective personalised treatments and precise interventions. By systematically investigating cellular heterogeneity, researchers are gaining unprecedented insights into gene mutations, cellular interactions, regulatory mechanisms, and molecular pathways that drive disease progression. BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Tony Acciarito, President, Asia-Pacific & Japan, Thermo Fisher Scientific to gain more insights into the future of this promising technology. Edited excerpts:

4 mins

The Better The AI Gets, The Harder It Is To Ignore

Hong Kong based Insilico Medicine, a pioneer in AI-based drug discovery, has made significant strides in recent years. Two of their candidates have reached clinical trials, with INS018-055 leading the pack as the first AI-discovered drug designed by generative AI to enter phase 2 clinical trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Back in 2014, when the company began, AI for drug discovery was relatively unheard of, but now it’s an indispensable part of the drug discovery process. Insilico’s partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms like Janssen underscore the growing importance of AI in this field. Dr Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, sheds light on the industry’s evolving response to AI in drug discovery, partnerships, regulatory reforms etc. and also shares the company’s future plans. Edited excerpts:

7 mins

"Lunit is poised to evolve from an Al-based medical imaging company into a pioneering provider of Al healthcare platform"

Lunit Inc, a pioneering player in South Korea’s medical imaging industry, achieved significant milestones in 2023. The company secured the EU MDR mark and unveiled its cutting-edge 3D breast screening product, known as ‘Lunit INSIGHT DBT.’ Notably, Lunit’s AI technology has been adopted by over 2,000 healthcare institutions worldwide, marking a major accomplishment. Lunit made noteworthy announcements, including their expansion into Saudi Arabia and Europe. Brandon Suh, the CEO of Lunit Inc., shares more about the company’s mission to combat cancer and advance medical image analytics. Edited excerpts;

4 mins

What's Transforming Australia's Thriving Life Sciences Industry?

With research and development thriving, and demand for locally made biopharmaceuticals increasing in an effort to secure reliable medical supply chains, Australia has set its sights on becoming a global life sciences hub. As Australia heads towards becoming a global life sciences hub, the industry pledges opportunities for all stakeholders, solidifying its pivotal role in shaping the nation’s healthcare landscape.

4 mins

Interacting with Startups to Tackle Mental Healthcare

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC), a government organisation for economic cooperation across APAC countries, reported that mental illness accounted for more than 20 per cent of the total years lost and less than 50 per cent of the people affected by mental illness received evidence-based treatment. To address these mental health concerns, startups in the APAC region have new technologies for improving awareness of mental health, maintaining the privacy of a patient, improving accessibility, and reducing unwanted hospitalisation. There is also a rise in mental wellness solutions in the form of phone apps and other digital platforms which will enable a paradigm shift towards preventive mental healthcare in the next few years. Let’s delve further.

6 mins

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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.