CATEGORIES

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.

Google Assistant Invests In Mental Health AI App Wysa

Google, via its assistant investment programme, has invested an undisclosed amount in Wysa, the artificial intelligence (AI) based Indian mental health startup, marking the fund’s first investment in Asia.

“China and India… to play a vital role in supplying COVID-19 vaccines globally”

“China and India… to play a vital role in supplying COVID-19 vaccines globally”

Wugen, Alpha Biopharma bring cancer cell therapies to Asia

Wugen Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel universal natural killer (NK) and T-cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, has announced that it has entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Shanghai-based Alpha Biopharma Inc. to manufacture, develop, and commercialize its allogeneic cell products in Asia, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan region and Singapore.

Singapore approves first commercial CAR-T therapy by Novartis

Novartis has announced that Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved Kymriah as the first commercial chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in Singapore under the new cell, tissue and gene therapy products (CTGTP) regulatory framework.

“We see opportunities across Asia with India as one of the key markets”

Headquartered in Sweden, Bio-Works Technologies AB carries out R&D, manufacturing and supply of agarose-based resins used to separate proteins and other biomolecules.

Pharma R&D: Taking the digital route

With the integrated predictive analytics available today, health-specific data can be used for generating invaluable clinical insights to tackle various disease burdens with novel strategic approaches.

“We consider the APA and China markets as highly attractive, fast-growing and very innovative”

Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1945, Eppendorf AG has more than 3,300 employees worldwide and has subsidiaries in 26 countries, and is represented in all important markets by distributors.

CELEBRATING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

A large number of women in the AsiaPacific (APAC) region are excelling in their respective fields such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, clinical research, biotechnology and rising as exemplary figures while putting their best efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the majority of the countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic and responding to its health and broader socioeconomic impacts, are headed by women. BioSpectrum brings to you 24 women in the life sciences sector at APAC who are making us proud by combating COVID-19, as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.