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:

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.

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.

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.

"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;

"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:

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.

"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:

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.

Sirnaomics brings Dr Francois Lebel on board for clinical development

With presence in both US and China, Sirnaomics has announced that Dr Francois Lebel, an experienced biopharmaceutical industry executive, has been appointed as Senior Vice President for preclinical and clinical development of the Group.

South Korea offers customised treatment for lung cancer patients

A group of researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea, along with researchers at Gradiant Bioconvergence, has recreated the internal environment of a lung cancer patient using a hydrogel derived from decellularised extracellular matrix (LudECM) obtained from porcine lungs.

BIO Asia-Taiwan 2023 attracts 100,000 visitors from 31 countries

The Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO) and the global Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO) ignited Taiwan’s three-day conference BIO Asia-Taiwan 2023 from July 26 to 30 at the Taipei Nangang International Exhibition Center (TaiNEX 1 and TaiNEX 2).

Understanding Medicinal Drug Delivery Using Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIS)

For a long time, dry powder inhalers (DPI) have been used for treating asthma, and other respiratory diseases, by delivering medication directly to the lungs.

Regulatory Landscape of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Across Asia

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data, approximately one in every six couples worldwide is impacted by infertility.

"Policies that help to add value to the R&D ecosystem are essential to empower Indian medical device sector"

OMRON Healthcare Manufacturing India (a subsidiary of OMRON Healthcare Corporation Japan) has begun the construction of its new plant in Chennai in May 2023.

"The APAC market is expected to witness the fastest growth of any radiopharmaceutical market worldwide"

Australian firm Telix Pharmaceuticals is pioneering advanced radiopharmaceuticals. Recently, the company achieved remarkable success with the global launch of Illuccix, their first commercial product for prostate cancer imaging in 2022.

"We need concerted action that brings together everyone's work to solve the CVD crisis"

In June 2023, the Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Disease Alliance (APAC CVD Alliance) was established to address the increasing burden of cardiovascular disease in the region.

South Korea poised to become MEDICAL AI POWERHOUSE

When it comes to Al (Artificial Intelligence) in medical sciences - China and the USA dominate the field. However, South Korea has been steadily catching up. Home to renowned tech giants such as Samsung and LG Electronics, South Korea is positioning itself as a significant player in the medical Al domain. The country is making remarkable strides in deploying Al for medical imaging, diagnostics, drug development and healthcare. Let's look at South Korea's efforts in becoming a medical Al powerhouse.

Multipronged Approach Against Alzheimer's Disease

In July 2023, Eisai and Biogen received full traditional approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for their Alzheimer's drug Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb). This drug is the first to target the disease's progression rather than merely addressing its symptoms.

"India has huge talent in generics, chemistry, biology, developing novel vaccines but not in novel drug discovery"

“India has huge talent in areas such as generics, chemistry, biology, developing novel vaccines like mRNA, mDNA etc. but not in novel drug discovery” said Dr Anandkumar, Co-Founder & CEO, Bugworks Research.

BioSpectrum India honours Bio & Health Sciences stalwarts

Leaders from the Indian Bio & Health Sciences industry were felicitated by India’s leading Bio & Health Sciences publication, BioSpectrum for their outstanding contribution over the past two years.

Singapore Life Sciences Market: Salaries, Trends, and Expectations

With Singapore’s population projected to grow and age substantially by 2030, the government anticipates a significant increase in public health spending, reaching an estimated S$ 27 billion.

"The current challenge facing the life sciences R&D market is the sheer number of data generated and the ability to analyse"

A company previously affiliated with PerkinElmer, Inc., US-based Revvity, Inc was recently launched as an independent science-based solutions company that leverages innovation across life sciences and diagnostics to help improve lives everywhere.

Quality Concerns Hits APAC

India is not alone in witnessing adverse events of various drugs. Several countries such as Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and many more have experienced challenges such as contamination, efficacy, and safety issues (with serious adverse events), resulting in drug recalls in the past few years. As with any incident, an in-depth look will bring forth the root of the problem. Let's explore.

TAIWAN BIOMED INDUSTRY EYES $32B

Biomedicine is a top priority for Taiwan, with the government aiming to position the country as the leading hub for biomedical research and development in the Asia-Pacific region. By 2025, Taiwan aims to create 20 new medicines, introduce 80 high-value medical devices to the market, and elevate the biomedicine industry into a trillion-NT-dollar (approximately $32 billion) sector. The government has taken various initiatives, established biomedicines clusters and tweaked policies to achieve this goal. Has the effort paid off? How far has the country come to achieve its goals? Let's find out.

"Generic manufacturers will likely face increasing challenges such as pricing pressures driven by unbranding efforts"

Kelix Bio, a UAE-based biopharmaceutical company, has four assets in India, Egypt, Malta, and Morocco, and with combined revenues of over $200 million in 2022, the company is pursuing aggressive organic and inorganic growth in Middle East/North Africa (MENA). Kelix Bio’s focus on chronic therapy areas and specialty products in high-growth markets positions it for significant growth and a planned listing on a major exchange in 2026. The company recently completed four acquisitions including Indian firm Celon Labs, thereby expanding its portfolio in oncology, critical care, cytotoxic drug products and insulin analogues. In conversation with BioSpectrum Asia, Hocine Sidi Said, Chief Executive Officer, Kelix Bio and Chairman, Celon Labs, reveals the company’s growth plans, strategic partnerships and more. Edited excerpts;

"APAC has one of the fastest drug discovery innovation speeds in the world"

U S-headquartered West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, has recently inaugurated its newly advanced manufacturing facility in Jurong, Singapore. This is part of West's commitment to invest more than $350 million globally in 2023. Alagu Subramaniam, Senior Director, Sales and Commercial Operations, Asia Pacific, West Pharmaceutical Services shares more details about this new facility in a candid chat with BioSpectrum Asia. Edited excerpts;

"There is a significant opportunity for LC and multi-angle light scattering instruments to be used in CDMOs across India"

In February, Waters Corporation, a global leader in analytical instruments and software, entered into an agreement to acquire Wyatt Technology, a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories and services, for $1.36 billion in cash. BioSpectrum spoke with Dr Udit Batra, President and CEO, Waters Corporation about the acquisition and how the company will expand the product portfolio of Wyatt Technology in the Indian market. Edited excerpts:

Breaking Biotech M&A out of a Slump

Biotech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have stagnated in recent times. The last big deal was in 2019 when American drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) acquired US-based Celgene for $74 billion. After a relatively unremarkable 2022 for biotech M&A, 2023 started with a flurry of billion-dollar acquisitions both globally and in the Asia-Pacific region. The latest examples include Astellas Pharma, a Japan-based company, acquiring American firm Iveric Bio for $4 billion in April 2023, and American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer proposing a $43 billion acquisition of US-based Seagen in March 2023. This surge of activity indicates an accelerating M&A landscape in the biotech industry. Let’s explore the industry’s expanding M&A landscape.