BioSpectrum Asia - September 2024

In this issue

Rebooting Japan’s Biotech Growth Engine
Japan was once a global leader in life sciences innovation, responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all new drugs. However, its share has since dropped to less than 10 per cent. Between 1995 and 2018, Japan's contribution to the global pharmaceutical industry's valueadded declined by 70 per cent, from 18.5 to 5.5 per cent. Factors such as strict price controls, reduced government investment in basic research, weak collaboration between industry and universities, and a slow regulatory process have significantly contributed to the decline in Japan's biopharmaceutical competitiveness, as noted in a 2022 paper by the Centre for Life Sciences
Innovation, part of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, US. Japanese companies’ share of clinical trials also declined from 11 per cent in 2013 to 4 per cent in 2023. An IQVIA report found that the number of trials initiated by Japanese companies dropped from 501 in 2013 to 244 a decade later. Additionally, Japan launched only 20 new medicines in 2023, the lowest total since 2014, trailing behind the US and other major markets. Recognising this, the Japanese government
has announced several initiatives designed to reshape the country’s biopharma ecosystem. These efforts include substantial increases in capital for venture funds,
targeted subsidies for therapeutic drug development, and a suite of tax incentives aimed at empowering investors, entrepreneurs, and startup employees.

Pfizer upgrades pharma production plant in Melbourne

Australia is stepping up to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, as Pfizer Australia announces a major upgrade to its manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Victoria.

1 min

Biogen, Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio to develop new tests for tau pathology

Biogen Inc., Beckman Coulter, Inc. (both based in the US) and Japan-based Fujirebio have announced a collaboration to potentially identify and develop blood-based biomarkers for tau pathology in the brain and to potentially clinically advance and potentially commercialise new tests for tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

1 min

Australian biotech incubator Proto Axiom announces $20 M Series B first close

Proto Axiom, the Australian biomedical technology incubator, has announced a $20 million first close of its targeted $30 million Series B, to bolster Australia's biotechnology sector through increased intellectual property (IP) retention.

1 min

Global scientists explore innovative tech to rapidly make new vaccine antigens

Researchers in the US are pursuing pioneering technology that may be able to rapidly create safe and effective vaccines against deadly epidemic and pandemic diseases that are more stable and less expensive than current vaccines.

1 min

Rebooting Japan's Biotech Growth Engine

Japan was once a global leader in life sciences innovation, responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all new drugs. However, its share has since dropped to less than 10 per cent. Between 1995 and 2018, Japan's contribution to the global pharmaceutical industry's value-added declined by 70 per cent, from 18.5 to 5.5 per cent.

10+ mins

Boosting Japan's Biotech Ecosystem

Japan's biotech ecosystem is at a pivotal moment, characterised by both challenges and opportunities. Despite a rich history of scientific achievement, including significant contributions to biochemistry and medicinal chemistry, Japan has struggled to cultivate a vibrant startup culture in biotechnology. This stagnation is partly attributed to stringent drug pricing controls that have stifled innovation and investment in the sector.

1 min

Strategies for Success in Japan's Biotech Ecosystem

Japan’s biotech sector is a landscape rife with opportunity, yet also a complex market that requires a deep understanding of local ecosystems and cultural nuances.

2 mins

Advancing Japan's Biotech Ecosystem: Current Initiatives and Future Outlook

Japan has a robust drug discovery capability, having developed an interleukin-6 inhibitor, a programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor, and, in earlier years, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for Alzheimer's disease.

2 mins

Cutting Clinical Costs with Companion Diagnostics

Advancing personalised medicine has become a key goal for many pharma firms, evident from the rising number of such therapies under clinical development. In 2022 alone, 12 new personalised medicines were approved, marking these treatments as accounting for at least a quarter of new drug approvals over the past eight years. This contrasts sharply with a decade ago when personalised medicines constituted less than 10 per cent of new approvals annually, according to The Personalised Medicine Coalition report. As the trend towards precision medicine and targeted therapies continues, companion diagnostics (CDX) are becoming increasingly vital, particularly in oncology. Let's explore the opportunities that CDX presents and the hurdles in their development and implementation.

7 mins

Unleashing Innovative Wound Care Solutions

The incidence of wounds is rising, especially in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In Australia alone, 420,000 individuals are impacted by chronic wounds, leading to direct healthcare costs of AUD $3 billion, representing 2 per cent of the country's total healthcare expenditure. Similarly, data from Singapore between 2000 and 2017 revealed that the incidence of wounds among hospitalised adults was 300 per 100,000 for those over 18 and 800 per 100,000 for those over 50. Let's explore further.

5 mins

"Australia has long been a global leader in research, yet our biotech sector has not lived up to its full potential"

Australia's first true biotech incubator, Proto Axiom, has secured $20 million in the first close of its $30 million Series B round to strengthen the nation's biotech sector through greater IP retention. Anthony Liveris, CEO of Proto Axio discusses the incubator's selection criteria, identifying the most promising biotech trends for global health, and outlining the key strengths that make Australian biotech globally competitive. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

"Our priorities will include identifying and understanding the challenges while engaging regularly with industry leaders to address their concerns"

K Raja Bhanu has been elevated from Executive Director to Director General of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), effective July 1, 2024. Bhanu brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in drug control and regulation. He has a proven track record in advancing drug quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. His leadership at the Drug Control Administration (DCA) was marked by significant initiatives that enhanced drug regulation standards and reinforced India's pharmaceutical reputation globally. In his current role, Bhanu is set to drive the expansion of India's pharmaceutical exports, boost global competitiveness, and adeptly navigate the complexities of international regulations, leveraging his extensive expertise to foster industry growth and global prominence. In an interaction with BioSpectrum, he shared his plans on addressing many challenges before the Indian pharma industry to stay compliant with international regulations. Edited excerpts:

4 mins

mRNA as novel active ingredient - Plasmid Factory providing the template for tomorrow's vaccines

PlasmidFactory GmbH was founded in 2000 in Bielefeld/Germany with 4 employees. In the meantime, under the founder and managing director Dr. Martin Schleef, the company has become a well-known contract manufacturer (CDMO) for plasmid and minicircle DNA. Today, PlasmidFactory has ~50 highly qualified employees, and has established a GMP manufacturing facility.

6 mins

PW Skills launches School of Healthcare to solve India's critical shortage of medical professionals

PW Skills, the upskilling vertical of Physics Wallah (PW) has announced the launch of School of Healthcare across five cities in India, namely, Noida, Indore, Lucknow, Patna and Delhi.

1 min

Singapore strengthens focus on computational biology

Singapore's National Quantum Office (NQO), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National University of Singapore (NUS), National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) and Quantinuum have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), enabling access to Quantinuum's advanced quantum computer, and to explore and collaborate on quantum computing use cases, focusing on computational biology.

1 min

Philips names Ling Liu as Chief Region Leader of Greater China

Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, has announced the appointment of Ling Liu as the Chief Region Leader of Philips Greater China.

1 min

Korea develops micro-structured artificial lung model using bioprinting technology

A team of Korean researchers has made a breakthrough that will greatly enhance the efficiency of respiratory disease research, garnering attention.

1 min

Singapore discovers new fungus type, a possible global public health threat

Researchers from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have discovered a new clade (or type) of Candida auris, bringing the number of clades known globally to a total of six.

1 min

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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.