As of July 2022, uncertainty persists as waves of SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge. Over time, new virus variants arise and threaten to reduce the impact of existing vaccine efforts. There is a clear need for potential strategies to tackle emerging variants, and to protect populations against the future pandemic.
Over the past 30 months, the development of the vaccine has been a prolonged and arduous process for the biopharma industry across the globe. The companies are investing in large production infrastructures with widespread distribution and are steadfast in bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to market. The global industry stakeholders share next-generation vaccine platforms by leveraging the capabilities and long-standing expertise of innovation to overcome the competitive barriers. An enviable network of alliances has emerged among global firms and a wide range of government and regional commercial partners, and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is not an exception.
As of July 20, 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted 11 vaccines an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for global usage. Around 40 vaccines have been approved, authorised, licensed, granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) by at least one country, or made available for use outside of clinical trials via any pathway by a regulatory agency, a national authority, or another entity. As per the records, at least one COVID-19 vaccine of any type has been approved in 197 countries. Further, there are 753 vaccine trials currently active with 220 vaccine candidates in 78 countries.
Dodgy Omicron
Bu hikaye BioSpectrum Asia dergisinin BioSpectrum Asia August 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye BioSpectrum Asia dergisinin BioSpectrum Asia August 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
"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:
"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:
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.
