Korea This week, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it would enhance drug safety management and make a new, streamlined review process for advanced healthcare goods. The new process will tighten control on raw drug materials, expand patient compensation for side-effects, and prepare review systems for advanced…

Korea The administration of President Moon Jae-in is moving to ensure the enduring success of South Korea’s healthcare and life sciences industries through increased international collaboration. However, some pharma insiders are calling for even greater governmental support for what is still a tightly regulated sector facing pressures over pricing, exacerbated partly…

Samsung Biologics It was less than a decade ago (2011) that Samsung Biologics was a new kid on the block amongst Korea’s booming biotech conglomerates. Since then the company has snowballed, building a series of progressively larger, more advanced facilities, culminating in its 180,000L “Dream Plant.” This facility, the largest single plant…

Korea Examining what it takes to be a country manager of a multinational pharma company in some of the world’s most challenging markets. Here, Eugene Kim, Seoul office leader of executive search firm Egon Zehnder outlines the new profile he looks for in potential candidates for country manager positions in South…

China China is set to become the second largest market for Mundipharma’s OxyContin behind the US.   It comes as no surprise that sales of opioids such as OxyContin have plummeted in the US following the media storm around the opioid crisis that sees the loss of thousands of American lives…

Korea As the 3rd largest pharma region in Asia, Korea’s booming pharma industry owes much to its mass of family-run conglomerates known as Chaebol. It comes as no surprise to find tech giants Samsung and LG in this list who have transitioned seamlessly into the life-sciences sector.   Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical …

India Indian pharma companies provide affordable generic drugs to patients in almost all countries across the globe, hence the reason India has been dubbed ‘ the pharmacy to the world.’ Furthermore, Indian companies are increasingly involved in massive R&D projects in the biologics field and a handful of Indian biosimilars have…

Cannabis Unclear licensing rules raise concerns that big foreign firms applying for patents might squeeze out local players and drive up the cost of cannabis-derived medical products.   Last week, Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed a bill allowing the use of cannabis and kratom, a local plant with opioid properties…

Korea Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern that we are increasingly understanding the consequences of and pulling together to try and keep under control. Korea is one of the many countries known for their misuse of antibiotics but now it looks as though the country is ready to join…

Korea The South Korean government has designated the promotion of artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug development and healthcare innovation as a national priority. This new policy aims to capitalise on Korea’s advanced technologies to drive the nation’s economic growth as well as better care for patients at home and abroad.   For…

Malaysia Click here to download the Healthcare & Life Sciences Review Malaysia 2018. After recent elections conducted in May 2018 saw Mahathir Mohamad returning as Prime Minister after 15 years to seal a historic victory, Malaysia is again back on its feet. Bolstered by well-established institutions, a fully-functional IP framework and strong…

Malaysia American medtech giant Baxter and pan-Asian healthcare service provider Zuellig Pharma have been collaborating in Malaysia to increase the quality and quantity of care that can be given to patients in their own homes, generating significant cost-savings for the healthcare system and increasing patient-centricity.   “[Home care] reduces costs significantly,…