China Two leading regional pharma executives, from Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim respectively have recently moved to head up China operations; perhaps a sign that despite recent geopolitical tensions, multinational biopharma is again/still betting on the country. With innovation-friendly healthcare reforms in place, as well as measures to encourage foreign investment,…

Japan Toshi Tominaga of Keio University Hospital, writing in the January 2023 edition of the DIA Global Forum magazine, outlines some recent updates to Japanese drug registration legislation, including how domestically generated academic clinical data can be utilised.   Japan’s current regulatory framework for investigator-initiated trials (IITs) of drug candidates seems…

APAC The latest pharma and healthcare news from APAC, including Celltrion’s plans to sell its Takeda portfolio to CBC; reforms to the South Korean national insurance system that may lead to shorter reimbursement timelines; Novartis’ early-stage HDAC6 Inhibitor deal with Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical; Astellas Pharma’s gastric cancer FDA fail; Daiichi…

China The latest pharma industry and healthcare news coming out of China including AstraZeneca’s acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies; the alarming drop in enrolment in China’s state health insurance system; Huadong Medicine/Impact Therapeutics cancer drug deal; new Changchun GeneScience Pharmaceutical R&D centre in Shanghai, and MGI Tech’s bet on Australia.   AstraZeneca,…

Hong Kong Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) chief executive Nicolas Aguzin has stepped down after a term fraught with upheaval. Having survived COVID-19 isolation, under Aguzin HKEX was confronted with strict regulatory crackdowns and has seen a drop in funds raised from initial public offerings by almost 40 percent. Newly…

India In the latest blow to Indian pharma’s reputation, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the suspension of marketing authorisations for a large number of generics tested by Indian CRO Synapse Labs. While the Indian government has taken steps to regulate the industry and improve quality, including a new Drugs,…

Asia-Pacific The APAC region —with an approximate ten percent growth in trial numbers between 2017 and 2022— is rapidly becoming the world’s leading market for clinical trials. Karen Chu, CEO of Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO), a CRO that serves Asian, US and European clients, has experienced the boom first hand.…

China A roundup of some of the biggest news stories from the pharma industry in China including Aspen’s purchase of Sandoz’s Chinese business; Moderna’s first mRNA facility in China; WuXi Biologics’ stock plunge, and BeiGene’s USD 1.33 billion CDK2 inhibitor deal with Ensem Therapeutics.   Bristol Myers to pay $800 million…

India The Indian pharma industry has demonstrated spectacular growth based on its strength as a global generics manufacturer. Yet Indian pharma is not merely resting on its laurels. After shining through the COVID-19 pandemic and despite recent quality issues, the country’s pharmaceutical sector is looking to refocus its efforts on innovation…

India India’s pharma industry has big dreams. At the recent Annual Summit of Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) the nation’s policymakers, academicians, industry leaders, innovators, and scientists gathered to set out their industry’s trajectory up to 2047. Based on discussions at the conference and a comprehensive new OPPI report,…

Singapore The latest pharma news from Singapore, including J&J Innovation’s continued investment in Singapore; Evotec’s new Singaporean venture, 65LAB; BeiGene’s cancer drug approval in the country; Novo Nordisk’s acquisition of local biotech KBP Biosciences’ late-stage investigational hypertension drug, and Crown Bioscience/JSR Life Sciences’ new manufacturing facility.   Johnson & Johnson Innovation…

Hong Kong Although well-established as Asia’s leading financial services and trading hub, Hong Kong has never truly been globally competitive in the innovation and technology space, despite piecemeal initiatives to bolster its standing in the field. However, with the publication of a comprehensive new Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, the time might…