Poland / Set to Take on an Even Greater Role in CEE Pharma
With a geostrategic location and easy access to both Western Europe and the rest of the emerging Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, Poland represents the sixth largest pharma market…
Contact address: Ministère du Travail de L’emploi et de la Sécurité Sociale 44, rue Mohamed Belouizded, Alger 16600 Algérie
With a geostrategic location and easy access to both Western Europe and the rest of the emerging Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, Poland represents the sixth largest pharma market…
Well established as Asia’s leading financial services and trading hub, Hong Kong is now looking to better position itself as a centre for biotechnology investment and start-ups. However, in a…
Karel van de Sompel of GIBBIS – the pluralistic federation of the public and private social-profit healthcare sector within the Brussels area – outlines the scope and aims of the…
Eli Lilly Belgium’s Frederic Clais discusses the potential impact of upcoming reform of the country’s access and reimbursement system, the country’s enduring relevance to the company as home to its…
EY Greece’s George Mitropoulos outlines some of the key challenges and opportunities for both local manufacturers and multinational innovators in Greece, how EY is uniquely positioned to assist them, and…
The third and final piece in Lenias Hwenda of Medicines for Africa’s series looking back at the challenges and successes of HIV/AIDS treatments over the past 40 years and potential…
Writing in the August edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Silvia B. Bendiner of WESSX Inc. and Belkis Romeu call for greater regulatory collaboration between Latin American countries, building on…
Although clinical trial diversity remains high on the agendas of industry sponsors, there is still a long road to travel towards more equitable and representative research – and ultimately safer…
Founded in July 2020, the Emirates Health Economics Society – led by Dr Sara Al Dallal – aims to create a space for the discussion of health economics within the…
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, discusses the park’s key milestones and plans for the future, the positive changes in the UAE’s regulatory landscape since COVID,…
The latest news from French healthcare and pharma, including an update on the hospital crisis; MaaT Pharma and Skyepharma’s new cGMP microbiome facility; Sanofi’s offloading of central nervous system drugs…
Thanks to its world-renowned networks of medical and academic institutions, the long-standing presence of Big Pharma, and a favourable regulatory environment, Belgium has a well-established tradition of excellence in clinical…
Pierre Boyer, GM at Servier BeLux for the past six years, outlines the unique characteristics and challenges of the Belgian market and shares the company’s 2030 strategy, its unique approach…
John Oyler, co-founded the Beijing-based biotech BeiGene in 2010 with the idea of building a global biopharmaceutical company in China and running clinical trials of an international standard there. With…
Commonly regarded ‘the father of Hong Kong biotechnology’, Professor Lo Yuk Lam has had a hand in almost all of the city’s biotech success stories, including those of Michael Yang…
At a time when the country’s economy has fallen into a slump with the currency sinking to its lowest level in 16 years, Chinese giant Fosun Pharma continues to agressively…
Spanish mid-cap Esteve is selling a 26 percent stake in the company to German private investment firm Lubea, a move it says will supply the necessary funds to further pursue…
A roundup of the latest news from Spanish pharma, including Almirall’s earnings forecast for 2023; stock price rise and layoffs at Grifols; PharmaMar’s first European approval for its lurbinectedin treatment…
The latest news from the Chinese healthcare and life sciences industry, including the first public comments from Astellas CEO Naoki Okamura following an employee’s arrest on espionage charges in China,…
Rodrigo Rodriguez, as area head for UMEA at Takeda, leads a vast and varied region that includes Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa and is characterised by what he calls…
A vibrant and diverse continent, home to over 650 million people and the highest life expectancy among developing regions, Latin America is now emerging as a globally relevant life sciences…
Speaking at the 2023 BIO International Convention Chris Viehbacher who joined Biogen as CEO only a few months ago, criticised the US’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), legislation that will allow…
Despite the thriving life sciences ecosystem that has made Belgium one of the top European destinations for clinical trials, the country continues to grapple with considerable access challenges and remains…
CSL Behring – which specalises in plasma-derived, and recombination therapeutic products – has undergone significant expansion in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in recent years under Hassan Herrou.…
Xavier De Cuyper of the Federal Agency for Medicines & Health Products (FAMHP), Belgium’s drug regulator, explains the FAMHP’s pandemic response and lessons learned, how the Agency is keeping on…
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is the pharma executive with the biggest impact on social media, according to a new study. While busy industry leaders may not currently place social media…
‘Sukoon’ means ‘tranquillity’ and ‘peace of mind’ in Hindi, Arabic and Urdu which perfectly reflects the recently rebranded Sukoon Insurance’s core purpose, according to CEO Jean-Louis Laurent Josi. He explains…
A roundup of some of the most significant recent stories from the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, including a slate of international investment which seems to suggest that – despite ongoing political…
Malaysian national Jonathan Chin culminated his 20+-year career at Boehringer Ingelheim and became GM of the firm’s Hong Kong and Macau affiliate in 2022. He explains his career path through…
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi ranks as the UAE’s best hospital, in the top 150 globally, and recently opened a new comprehensive state-of-the-art cancer centre. CEO Dr Jorge A. Guzman outlines…
Insighta, formed this year as a 50/50 joint venture between genomics-focused outfit Prenetics and one of the city’s most feted scientific sons, Professor Dennis Lo, is aiming to change the…
A roundup of some of the most important recent stories from the burgeoning South Korean pharma and biotech industry, including a government plan to expand collaboration with the global innovation…
Cyberport brands itself as Hong Kong’s digital technology hub and today plays host to roughly 2,000 start-ups and technology companies. CEO Peter Yan outlines how Cyberport is helping develop its…
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting supply chain disruptions, global drug pricing and access reforms have multiplied. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been introduced in the US while…
Biotech and life sciences companies have a habit of clustering together, creating shared ecosystems to drive innovation. For going on 12 years Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JLABS), has been supporting…
AHK UAE CEO Oliver Oehms gives an overview of German healthcare investment in the Emirates, how the Chamber assists German firms in adjusting to the rapid pace of reform in…
Rainer Westermann, chairman of the Life Sciences Acceleration Alliance e.V. (LSAA), which lobbies on behalf of European venture capitalists in the life sciences space, critiques the draft EU Pharma Regulation…
Servier Morocco, with its robust portfolio of 15 products and a turnover of EUR 30 million, has forged a leading position in the local market. Managing Director Florent Darchez explains…
Claudia Martínez, generic & biosimilar medicines programme manager at the Access to Medicine Foundation, draws from a recent AMF report to outline what more generics companies can be doing to…
20-year Astellas veteran Mark Dekker – now back in his home country of the Netherlands and overseeing the Benelux cluster having primarily developed his career in emerging European markets –…
Medaxes – the Belgian industry association for companies producing generic and biosimilar medicines, as well as other off-patent medicines and self-care products – welcomed a new CEO in 2022, Jasmien…
Japanese-headquartered Takeda has been undergoing a transformation in recent years, becoming the global leader in rare diseases with the acquisition of Shire in 2018 and divesting ‘non-core’ assets in OTC…
A roundup of the latest pharma and healthcare news from Turkey including Omya’s new Turkish manufacturing site, Santa Farma’s fourth EU-GMP certification and the collaboration agreement between BioNTech and Turkey’s…
While Bayer’s recent history has been dominated by the controversial Monsanto acquisition, the German firm will be hoping for a more straightforward next few years with a new leadership team…
Managing Director of MSD Greece, Cyprus & Malta Agata Jakoncic, who also serves as president of Greece’s PhRMA Innovation Forum (PIF), draws on her three decades of industry experience to…
Eli Lilly recently revealed more than promising clinical trial results for its Alzheimer’s candidate, donanemab, showing that the drug slows Alzheimer’s by as much as 60 percent in mild cases.…
Writing in the September 2023 edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Shuting Li of Anhui Jimin Cancer Hospital and Xinfang Fan of Bayer Health Care Ltd. examine how Chinese clinical…
As part of the EU’s Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, the European Commission has come out with a set of proposals to revise EU pharmaceutical legislation. The reforms, which aim to…
Managing partner Nisa Leung co-founded three healthcare companies before starting the venture capital firm Qiming Venture Partners, a pioneer in China that has backed over 530 fast-growth companies, including Xiaomi,…
Executive director & chief strategy officer at HKEX-listed RNA therapeutics biotech Sirnaomics, Dr Dai Xiaochang is no stranger to Hong Kong and mainland China’s pharma and biotech ecosystem, having held…
Celltrion Healthcare Belgium’s Nicolas Van Gelder introduces the concept of ‘biobetters’ and how they differ from standard biosimilars and originator biologics, the reception and uptake of these products so far…
David H. Crean, Ph.D., Managing Partner at Cardiff Advisory, provides his insights on the potential impact of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s antitrust policies on biopharmaceutical mergers and acquisitions.…
With a welter of regulatory upgrades in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in recent years, patients in the Middle East’s leading countries now have wider and faster access to cutting-edge…
Greece’s deep and painful sovereign debt crisis lasted almost a decade and saw up to 500,000 Greeks leave the country in search of opportunities elsewhere as the country’s economy shrunk…
After a 25-year-long career at Roche, spent at local affiliates in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as in global positions in Switzerland and the US, Marie-José Borst took…
Airfinity’s Dr Patricia Gallego highlights the persistent threat that COVID-19 continues to present to patients and healthcare systems around the world and outlines the urgent need for more vaccine breakthroughs…
Founded in 1980 “at the dawn of a biotechnology revolution,” Amgen has held its ground throughout its more than 40-year history with innovative approaches to drug discovery that have led…
PDC*line Pharma’s Eric Halioula explains why he decided to establish a biotech in Belgium, outlines the progress that his immuno-oncology focused firm has made in clinical trials since our last…
Leveraging his 24-year career in Big Pharma, Howard Lin recently moved to set up healthcare and life science consultancy CL Consultancy in Hong Kong. Lin examines the opportunities and challenges…
Stefan Joris of the Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Association (BCFA) highlights the progress that has been made on cystic fibrosis screening of newborns and reimbursement of innovative modulator therapies in Belgium…
China has made major healthcare strides over the past decade with regulatory reforms, infrastructure improvements, and the advancement of universal healthcare. While the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need for further…
Younes Lamarti of Africa Global Logistics (AGL) explains the impact of the company’s recent acquisition by MSC, the world’s leading shipping line, how it is partnering on biopharmaceutical distribution and…
Bio-Gene, part of the Pangenia Group, is one of Hong Kong’s most notable life science success stories, with operations in the laboratory supply of instruments, reagents and consumables. Desmond Hau,…
In conversation at DIA Europe 2023 in Basel, European Medicines Agency Executive Director Emer Cooke looks back at the lessons EMA has taken from the COVID-19 pandemic response, outlines the…
Diane Kleinermans leads the reimbursement commission at Belgium’s medicines payer, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI). With Belgium currently undergoing a landmark reform of its reimbursement procedure,…
Erik Present outlines Healixia’s progress in the past three years as the association which brings together medical professionals from across the Belgian healthcare and life sciences ecosystem has grown. Present…
Former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung) discusses recent science and technology initiatives like the new Hong Kong University of Science and…
Vanja Hoeben oversees the Benelux cluster for South Africa-headquartered specialty and branded pharma firm Aspen. He describes the reorganisation that his organisation has undergone in the past few years, some…
Albert Wong of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) outlines how Hong Kong has developed as an innovation hub, building on its established areas of finance and…
The latest pharma news from Brazil, including Daiichi Sankyo’s new plant; Bristol Myers Squibb’s re-entry into Brazil’s cardiology market; the Anvisa approval of HIV prevention drug, cabotegravir; Merck’s gamble on…
Ramy Koussa shares the passion and vision of focused women’s health player Organon in the MENAT region, how the organisation has adapted and improved to better serve women in the…
Almost a decade on from the establishment of a Phase I clinical trial centre in Hong Kong, the city continues to pursue a stronger positioning within the global clinical research…
Brendan Shaw examines the protracted efforts of global stakeholders to come together around a global pandemic treaty and outlines the benefits of constructive engagement on the part of the pharmaceutical…
Less than two years into position as CEO of MENA-wide pharma and consumer health player Dar Al Dawa, Khaled Harb looks back on what has already been achieved and the…
Aligned with the country’s 2021 development plan and the national project to extend health insurance to all of its citizens, Morocco has embarked on a sweeping healthcare reform. After a…
Lawrence Wong outlines how reproductive medicine-focused Ferring Pharmaceuticals is serving the patients of Hong Kong as the city’s birth rates have plateaued, weighs in on why the establishment of a…
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed a lot of media attention in recent months following the launch of chatbot ChatGPT, but the pharmaceutical industry has long been trying – and…
Regular contributor Brendan Shaw* casts his eye over the recently announced 2023 WHO Essential Medicines List, how it reflects growing pharmaceutical innovation, and why maintaining a ‘seat at the table’…
Alexander Natz of the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE) casts his eye over the potential effects of the upcoming EU Pharmaceutical Legislation for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Europe.…
Latin America’s patient organisations are today playing a more important role than ever before in developing solutions to the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Given the healthcare gaps that persist,…
Dr Entesar Al Hammadi has held leadership positions in paediatric hospitals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the past 23 years. She is currently heading up the Al Jalila…
With a total R&D spend of USD 2.66 billion in 2022 and a pipeline that features cutting-edge technologies such as mRNA, cell therapy and gene editing, Vertex Pharmaceuticals is looking…
MSD GCC’s new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) aims to advance research into breast and lung cancer. The deal, signed at the BIO…
As a part of its continued digitalisation efforts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the region’s first pharmaceutical track-and-trace system, Tatmeen. With the new system, which will monitor each…
Tecnoquímicas recently invested over USD 250 million in its Colombian manufacturing plants, signifying the company’s continuing faith in its home market. Executive Vice-President Emilio Sardi Aparicio outlines the regulatory and…
Patents can be an excellent way to demonstrate value, not only showing that a technology is protected but also how promising it can be when it eventually comes to market.…
The latest pharma and healthcare news from Southeast Asia, including the partnership between KPJ Healthcare and Samsung; Specialised Therapeutics’ immuno-oncology therapy; Singapore biotech CytoMed Therapeutics’ IPO, the Malaysian approval of…
Writing in the July 2023 edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Mariana Abdala of Crystal Research outlines the vast room for improvement in Latin America’s clinical trial output, the region’s…
Belgium’s Flanders region is a hotbed of biotech excellence, with numerous examples of university spin-offs being translated into commercial-stage companies and many of those later acquired by Big Pharma. Wouter…
Ahmed Moustafa outlines the incredible development of the healthcare ecosystem in the UAE driven by a rapid ramping up of the country’s health infrastructure and a willingness on the part…
Spyridon Gkikas outlines how GE HealthCare’s global transformation is playing out in Greece as well as the opportunities and challenges of bringing cutting-edge medical technology into the Greek healthcare system.…
Janssen has the lofty aim of reaching USD 60bn dollars in sales by 2025, an 8bn increase on the 2021 figure, despite some high-profile losses of exclusivity and the spin-off…
Shawview Consulting’s Brendan Shaw casts his eye over the increased industry focus on Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues in recent years, urging pharma companies to deliver on their ESG promises…
Dr Rochdi Talib, President-Director General of Morocco’s leading private healthcare group, AKDITAL, on the impressive growth trajectory that brought it to a USD 100 million revenue milestone in 2022. He…
A roundup of some of the top stories from the Indian pharma industry including the suspension of the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) guidelines making the prescription of generic drugs mandatory;…
Once primarily associated with dispensing medications alone, many pharmacies have now evolved into dynamic healthcare hubs, offering a diverse range of services that extend far beyond traditional prescription filling. Similarly,…
Healthcare in the GCC continues to undergo major transformation with the introduction of government reforms, a shifting demographic and mandatory health insurance. These factors along with increased private sector participation…
Greek medtech industry veteran Dimitris Nikas outlines what makes him optimistic about the future of Greek healthcare, highlights the areas for systemic improvement and how EU recovery funding could help,…
Tech entrepreneur and investor Duncan Chiu has long been committed to developing local technology and innovation in Hong Kong. He discusses the current blueprint for advancing life sciences, advanced manufacturing,…
A groundbreaking research scientist noted for his work in non-invasive blood-based diagnoses, Professor Dennis Lo currently holds a number of positions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Lo, whose…
As profit margins in established markets decreased, “pharmerging markets” became the new El Dorado for pharma and medtech companies in the 2010s. Many put in big investments only to discover…
Henry Yau is managing director of the Hong Kong University (HKU) Clinical Trials Centre in Hong Kong and CEO of the Centre’s mainland China arm. Yau explains how the clinical…
Igor Bondarenko of Ukraine’s Dnipro State Medical University, Evgeny Levenko from clinical trials company, ARENSIA, and Olena Popova from IQVIA offer their perspectives on maintaining quality and ensuring participant protection…
Alexander Alonso, GM of medtech giant BD’s Benelux affiliate explains the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations, the company’s 2025 strategy, and some of the most significant recent…
Having become one of the 20 youngest US billionaires as founder and CEO of disruptive biotech firm Roivant Sciences, Vivek Ramaswamy has now set his sights on becoming his country’s…
The global contract research organization (CRO) market is estimated to be worth USD 76.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 127.3 billion by 2028, growing at a…
Rainer Westermann, chairman of the Life Sciences Acceleration Alliance e.V. (LSAA), which lobbies on behalf of European venture capitalists in the life sciences space, launches a critique of current pharmaceutical…
After almost 20 years with AbbVie, Renaud Decroix still feels as engaged and motivated as ever by the goal of having a remarkable impact on patients’ lives. Decroix highlights some…
Belgium is a hugely significant country for GSK – which employs 9,000 people in the country – as host to three of the firm’s major vaccine sites, the global headquarters…
RaDiOrg aims to support rare disease patients and patient organisations in Belgium, defend their interests, and raise awareness of what can be devastating and little-understood conditions. Director Eva Schoeters –…
Perhaps to the surprise of many, Belgium is the world’s second-largest producer of vaccines, behind only the US, and – capitalising on its years of experience in the field –…
Writing in the July 2023 edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Nevena Miletic of Roche and the IFPMA’s Africa Regulatory Network and Ian Hudson from the Bill and Melinda Gates…
Professor Michael Yang of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) introduces the ‘HK Tech 300‘ programme he oversees, the largest university-based entrepreneurship programme in Asia. Drawing on his own experience…
The newly merged Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the world’s first GDP-compliant seaport. CCO Tom Hautekiet explains the significant role the Port is playing in global healthcare supply chains – leveraging…
Maria Fernanda Prado highlights some of the lessons drawn from her extensive experience in emerging markets which remain applicable in her current role as Janssen’s managing director for the Benelux…
While patient advocacy is still less prevalent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) than in other parts of the world and there are no UAE patient organisations among the World…
With over 140 operating biotech companies representing almost a quarter of Europe’s biotech market and a strong network of universities and research institutes, Belgium boasts a solid biotech ecosystem that…
Following a turbulent few years for the healthcare industry, especially in the Middle East and Africa region, Siemens Healthineers’ Ole Per Maloy explains how the medtech giant has pivoted towards…
Following the appointment of new boards at the US innovative pharma industry body PhRMA, and its European counterpart EFPIA, it is global group the IFPMA’s turn to reveal a new…
In 2022, the biotech sector felt the impact of the challenges facing global capital markets and Hong Kong was no exception. Last year, only eight biotech companies listed on the…
Belgian healthcare performs strongly across most metrics and international comparisons, but – as elsewhere – there remains room for improvement in terms of integrating patient feedback and experience into the…
Burjeel Hospital is one of Abu Dhabi’s leading private healthcare facilities, and – as CEO Omer Abdel Rahman explains – is at the forefront of pushing forward medical innovation and…
As part of a wide-ranging conversation with PharmaBoardroom published earlier this month, European Medicines Agency (EMA) Executive Director Emer Cooke laid out four of the Agency’s core focus areas for…
Established in 2017 as a spin-off from Lee’s Pharmaceutical, Zhaoke Ophthalmology is aiming to be a global player in the ophthalmology field, building on its strong footprint in China and…
The latest news from UK healthcare and the life sciences, including a record rise in the number of people using private healthcare services due to significant strains on the National…
Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, the country has been activating the private sector’s participation in its healthcare transformation, advancing the public-private partnership (PPP) model to step up the rollout…
Fadela Benjelloun, executive director of LEMM, the association of multinational pharma companies in Morocco, looks back on the evolution of the Moroccan pharma market over the past three years, examines…
Yvoni Papastelatou outlines Sanofi’s commitment to Greece, where the multinational firm has a strong and diverse team, a burgeoning clinical trial footprint, and is rolling out the global ‘play to…
Zeina Sfeir Lahoud of Biologix, a Dubai-based firm that represents international pharma companies by bringing innovative drugs to market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, highlights important…
Based at Gilead Sciences’ Hong Kong hub, as VP & GM of Asia, Turkey, and the Middle East, American Dustin Haines oversees a vast region that includes the “Asia 5”…
Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1999, that supports cancer patients, their families, donors, and the overall community in the UAE. Director Aisha Abdulla Al…
In the French government’s recent cabinet reshuffle, prime minister Elisabeth Borne’s former chief of staff, Aurélien Rousseau was appointed as the new minister of health. Rousseau, having piloted the Île-de-France…
The European Coalition for Access to Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (ECGP) is a new initiative made up of industry association the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE), molecular diagnostics firms Exact…
Lamia Tazi, chairwoman of the board and CEO of Sothema and VP of the Moroccan Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (FMIIP), walks us through the over 40-year-old family-owned Moroccan company’s…
NewBridge Pharmaceuticals’ Joe Henein describes how his MENA-focused specialty innovative biopharma distributor has developed over the last 13 years to become a market leader; looks at some of the key…
With office occupation rates on the slide and the life sciences industry’s demand for lab space on the rise, the repurposing of existing offices into medical laboratories has become an…
Marc Gryseels of BACHI, Belgium’s over-the-counter (OTC) medicines association, highlights the organisation’s mission and vision, the key trends at play within the Belgian consumer healthcare market, and his industry’s significant…
AstraZeneca, the largest overseas pharmaceutical company in mainland China by sales, is also the market leader in Hong Kong and Macau, a territory overseen by General Manager Shan Wu. She…
An Van Gerven took the reins of Pfizer’s BeLux affiliate just 9 months ago after a diverse range of roles at the company over the course of 12 years. She…
A roundup of some of the latest healthcare and pharma news from China including a crackdown on healthcare corruption; AstraZeneca’s cardiovascular mortality drug approval and mRNA manufacturing deal with CanSino;…
At this year’s Swiss Biotech Day, the Swiss Biotech Association celebrated its 25 years of existence and proved the ability of the sector to weather geopolitical disruptions and funding challenges…
16-year Gilead veteran, Vítor Papão, recently left Europe to take on a new role within the company as general manager of the vast Middle East & Russia cluster. He discusses…
One year into his first country management assignment at Takeda Belgium, Michael Nesrallah reflects on his initial impressions of the Belgian pharma market as well as its similarities and differences…
Erstwhile general manager for the GCC countries at Japanese-headquartered rare disease specialist Kyowa Kirin, earlier this year Myriam Hakim was appointed as the firm’s regional nephrology franchise head for the…
Big Pharma has been raging against the US’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ever since it was passed last year. Merck (MSD global) has recently taken its indignation a step further…
MSD’s managing director for Hong Kong and Macau, Vincent Tong, came to lead the affiliate during the COVID-19 pandemic. He outlines the challenges and opportunities of a challenging time, discusses…
The memorandum of understanding includes the localization of manufacturing at EVA Pharma’s specialized and internationally accredited facility for the manufacture of immunosuppressants in the 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt, in…
Country managers from three leading medtech multinationals give their take on the key access challenges facing medical device companies in Greece. New Access Models “While some value-based procurement agreements…
As geopolitical tensions between China and the US increase and pharma industry stakeholders are increasingly looking elsewhere in Asia to diversify their supply chains, Vietnam has emerged as a highly…
After last year’s acquisition of Vifor Pharma, the firm’s largest ever, opened new avenues for diversification, the ground-breaking approval of the Hemgenix gene therapy for Hemophilia B was an equally…
Mourad Ishak began heading up Farmak’s MEA region as general manager in 2021, after almost two decades in the industry. He explains the Ukranian complex generics maker’s decision to set…
Benelux is a crucial cluster for Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), which recently started construction of its first European CAR-T cell therapy production centre at the Leiden Bio Science Park. Sally…
2023 got off to a good start for Boehringer Ingelheim’s human pharma division. Not only has the year begun with substantial sales growth thanks to the German firm’s diabetes and…
Takeda’s Mwana Lugogo and Pfizer’s Rady Johnson, the current and former chairs of the IFPMA Ethics & Business Integrity Committee and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officers Roundtable respectively, highlight the…
Paul Tam, who serves as chair professor & VP at Macau University of Science and Technology as well as emeritus professor and honorary clinical professor of surgery at the University…
During a panel discussion at the BIO International Convention, Peter Marks, director of the US FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) discussed the positive regulatory outcomes of the…
With cutting-edge hospital infrastructure being put in place, government authorities rolling out evermore supportive regulatory upgrades, big pharma championing ‘clinical trial diversity’ with greater non-Caucasian representation in trial cohorts, and…
Novartis, one of the world’s largest biopharma companies, has secured approval and market access for two of its most advanced cell and gene treatments in Hong Kong. The firm’s territory…
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has elected a new president and vice presidents who have set out a key priority for their term: a series of…
Following the diagnosis of her daughter with a rare and debilitating condition eight years ago, Youmna Ouraybi Ghaziri has dedicated herself to advocating on behalf of her and other rare…
Head of the Middle East region and GM for the Middle East & Africa affiliate, Basel Thaher outlines his 18-year career at Menarini and discusses the Italian family-run company’s footprint…
Looking ahead to the Hong Kong International Biotechnology Convention (BIOHK2023) taking place between 13-16 September 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, three of the event’s leading lights…
Since first allowing pre-revenue biotechs to list in 2018, the Hong Kong stock exchange has welcomed 59 such companies and is now a leading vehicle for allowing Chinese biopharma to…
There have been both ups and downs in AbbVie’s recent history. After proving its staying power with the celebration of its 10-year anniversary as an independent company spun off from…
Tarek Thaher of MS Pharma, a leading generics firm in the Middle East and Africa, describes the benefits of manufacturing localisation in the UAE, his excitement about the firm’s growth…
Merck KGaA’s Marco Rauland and Kaushal Kishore examine how artificial intelligence and machine learning can best be applied in pharmaceutical pricing and market access. Noting the significant uptake of such…
Ahmad Abu Dahab became the first Middle East employee for Swedish-headquartered haematology, immunology and specialty care player SOBI back in 2012 and now serves as VP for the entire Middle…
Global biopharma is increasingly moving towards biologic medicines, which promise a greater impact on patient’s lives than the small-molecule drugs that preceded them, but which come with significant added costs…
Before taking on his new position as VP and general manager of GSK Greece, Antonino Biroccio was already familiar with the Greek affiliate, having spent three years there in previous…
pharma.be is the association of the Belgian R&D-based pharmaceutical industry, representing over 42,000 employees at 130 companies. CEO Caroline Ven outlines the crucial role that pharma.be and its members played…
Amgen has forged a solid position as one of the world’s largest independent biotechnology companies. With a market capitalisation of some USD 130 billion and 27 approved medicines, the US-based…
Life sciences have been steadily losing ground in the UK with a significant drop in global R&D investments and a decreasing number of patients enrolled in clinical trials. The British…
Maphar, a 72-year mainstay of the Moroccan pharma industry with both production and distribution arms, has achieved considerable success in recent years, expanding its international network to now reach over…
Théa veteran and GM of the French ophthalmology midcap’s BeLux affiliate, Ivan Perrichon, reveals the company’s plans to pursue its growth trajectory, launch ten new products in Belgium and reach…
Angelini Pharma’s Gabriele Jannis draws on his experience in both Russia and Romania to highlight some of the key challenges for European mid-caps like Angelini in Greece, the importance of…
One of Greece’s leading domestic pharmaceutical companies, RAFARM has had a stellar recent history, including a momentous entry into the US market. Now looking to establish itself as one of…
Germany and Belgium have long held an important trading relationship, says Margit Kunz of AHK Debelux, the German chamber of commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg. She outlines some of the…
Global medtech giant Medtronic is hoping that its latest acquisition – EOFlow, a South Korean wearable insulin patch maker – will enhance its competitiveness in the global diabetes market. …
With the global market for cell and gene therapy (CGT) products set to skyrocket in the coming years, Hong Kong is looking to get in on the action with the…
The concepts of patient-centricity and patient-centred healthcare systems have been much discussed in recent years but, in the opinion of Stefan Gijssels, there is still a long road to travel…
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has joined the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), aimed at harmonising inspection procedures worldwide. Through PIC/S membership the SFDA looks to continue bolstering…
Patrick van der Loo oversees Pfizer’s operations across the vast Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA) region. In a wide-ranging and insightful conversation, van der Loo outlines the company’s approach…
Ahead of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78), IFPMA Director General Thomas Cueni underscores the need for pandemic preparedness plans to support innovation and equity. Global…
Mohamed Ezz Eldin oversees Novartis operations in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. He outlines how the company’s strategy has evolved in the Gulf region following the spin-off of…
As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, vaccination is perhaps the most important tool a country has in maintaining the health of its population. Writing in the May 2023 edition of DIA’s…
Encircled by heavyweight life sciences powerhouses of the likes of Germany, France and Switzerland, plucky Belgium nonetheless continues to astonish and project considerable influence when it comes to its abilities…
Argentinian generics manufacturer Grupo Roemmers – which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2021 – has expanded steadily across the Latin America and Caribbean region since the mid-1970s with a successful…
Illumina’s newly appointed CEO, Jacob Thaysen, will take the reins of the gene sequencing giant at the end of September. Falling heir to the difficulties that have plagued the company…
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the multi-stakeholder collaboration needed to find solutions, AstraZeneca launched the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) in collaboration with KPMG, the London School…
Gábor Sztaniszláv talks through the global relevance of Belux to Amgen’s operations, some of the challenging market access conditions at play – especially for orphan drugs -, and how the…
Marwa Soliman of blood gas testing pioneer Radiometer explains how the company’s operations have developed in the MEA region, growing awareness of the importance of point-of-care diagnostics post-COVID, and how…
The DIA Global Annual Meeting 2023 hosted DIA’s first regulatory Town Hall fully dedicated to one regulator from Latin America, as leadership from Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency, ANVISA, shared updates on the…
Fresh from the news that one of its AI-designed and discovered drug candidates has entered Phase II human clinical trials – the first time that such a project has made…
Dr Frank Nobels, one of Belgium’s leading endocrinologists and diabetologists, introduces the Belgian Diabetes Forum – a multi-stakeholder initiative which aims to create efficient policy engagement in diabetes and make…
The Al-Hikma Group has grown from humble beginnings to today stand as one of the Middle East’s premier pharmaceutical distributors under the watch of Founder and CEO Ali Farooq Abdulqader.…
Newly promoted to manage Aspen’s Middle East and Europe region, Daniel Vella Friggieri outlines the rationale behind the company’s strategic reconfiguration, how the South-Africa headquartered firm is looking to expand…
After 15 years of economic struggles coupled with political swings to the left and right, Greece seems to be on its surest footing in decades. Indeed, the Economist observed that…
A roundup of the latest pharma and healthcare news from Turkey including Roche Turkey’s digital platform for HCPs and patients, big pharma’s aid to earthquake victims, the Scientific and Technological…
Novartis is one of Belgian pharma’s biggest investors across manufacturing and R&D, contributing EUR 598.9 million to GDP in 2022, creating 4,403 direct and indirect jobs, and reaching 5,349,628 million…
Belgium is a key country for Sanofi in Europe as home to its Geel production site, in which almost EUR one billion has been invested over the past 15 years,…
In an important milestone for Taiwan’s biotech industry, Diamond Biofund – one of the territory’s most well-established venture capital (VC) funds – became the first such firm to list on…
First set up in 2014, the Guangdong Medical Valley is an investment incubation platform in southern China focusing on the biomedical and medical device industries. CEO Xia Jiasheng explains how…
Speaking exclusively to PharmaBoardroom, Pedro Facon outlines the scope and aims of the new medicines roadmap that NIHDI has recently presented to the Belgian Ministry of Health following extensive stakeholder…
Amgen’s Mohammed Nasser casts his eye on some of the key trends affecting healthcare and the life sciences in the Middle East and Africa, including a significant maturity in uptake…
The Guangzhou production site of HKEX-listed RNA therapeutics biotech Sirnaomics is overseen by pharma industry veteran Edward Wang. Here, Wang explains his contribution to the development of good manufacturing practices…
Writing in the August edition of DIA’s Global Forum magazine, Wen Yin of the Pfizer China R&D Center and Wanhe Deng of GSK China Investment look back on four years…
The latest news from Spanish pharmaceuticals and healthcare, including national champion Esteve’s decision to sell of a quarter of its stock to German private investment firm Lubea; news of pharma’s…
Several macro-trends affected the pharmaceutical industry in 2022, impacting its inventory position, writes Matthew Bardell, managing director of specialist inventory consultants nVentic. Bardell highlights findings in a recent report –…
As managing director of the CR-CP Life Science Fund, whose shareholders, CR Group and CP Group, are on the Fortune Global 500 List, Da Liu leads investments in life sciences…
The latest from Mexican pharma, including the distribution agreement between Dow and Azelis, Neuraxpharm’s new LatAm subsidiaries in Mexico and Brazil; Landsteiner Scientific’s restructure, and Merck’s plant expansion in Naucalpan.…
While the COVID-19 pandemic was a global wake-up call for many, life sciences stakeholders argue that not enough is being done to address the rising threats of further health crises…
The latest healthcare and life sciences news from China, including Eisai’s USD 2 billion oncology deal with Bliss Biopharma; Hasten Biopharmaceutic acquisition of commercial rights in China for Rocephin from…
French-headquartered Pierre Fabre has merged its dermo cosmetics and medical care arms under a single management team over the past four years; a strategy that has helped the firm to…
As big pharma continues to sharpen its focus on R&D by outsourcing other elements of the supply chain, including manufacturing, CDMOs have thrived. Samsung Biologics, one of the world’s top…
As the UAE’s only gastrointestinal oncologist, Professor Humaid Al-Shamsi is well-placed to comment on the evolution of cancer care in the country, noting massive leaps forward in terms of technology,…
After a 12-year stint at Sanofi, Bill Sibold is leaving Big Pharma to join the Pennsylvania-based biotech Madrigal Pharmaceuticals as CEO. Sibold, no stranger to ground-breaking launches, having brought the…
PHRMAG represents the interests of the 26 leading research-driven biopharmaceutical companies in the Gulf region. Acting Secretary General Shahad Mahdi outlines the association’s core priorities, how it fosters partnerships to…
With two in-house Clinical Research Units (PCRUs), Pfizer uniquely keeps its phase I research within the company. As Medical/Scientific advisor at the Brussels PCRU and with a history of more…
PhRMA MEA’s Samir Khalil highlights some of the key trends at play across the Middle East and Africa’s dynamic and fast-changing pharmaceutical ecosystem, including several wide-ranging national health transformation plans,…
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry since July 2022, Professor Dong SUN is a pioneer in robotic manipulation of biological cells and robot control, whose research has led…
The rise of niche therapies is shaping a more tailored engagement model, driven by data and AI, writes Florian Schnappauf, vice president of enterprise commercial strategy at Veeva Europe. …
One of Asia’s most pre-eminent oncologists, Professor Tony Mok is perhaps best known for discovering the EGFR mutation gene and subsequently developing a targeted therapy that is more precise and…
The UHC2030 Private Sector Constituency (UHC2030 PSC), which is hosted by the World Bank Group, has released a statement on the private sector commitments toward universal health coverage (UHC), ahead…
Amr Seif outlines Astellas’ progress into becoming a focused oncology speciality player in the Middle East and Africa, in line with the company’s global Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 (CSP2021). He…
2018 marked a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s journey towards creating a vibrant biotech market for investors which allows Asian innovation to receive the funding it needs to progress. It…
MARBIO, a new vaccine manufacturing joint venture in Morocco, is the result of a partnership between the BAB banking consortium (Bank of Africa, Banque Centrale Populaire, and Attijariwafa Bank), Swedish…
Dr Omar Hallak talks about the journey towards establishing a cardiovascular center of excellence at King’s College Hospital in the UAE and discusses advancements made in the field of cardiology…
Belgium’s drug reimbursement system has become increasingly lengthy and complex, compromising patient access to innovative medicines. The roadmap recently presented by the Minister of Health and the Belgian National Institute…
Only a small percentage of global clinical research takes place in the Middle East and Africa region today. This means that full-service MEA-focused clinical research organisation PDC CRO has a…
Dr Ibtesam Al Bastaki, director of healthcare investment at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) describes how healthcare investment is flowing into the Emirate via both pure investments and public-private partnerships…
PharmaScan BeLux is a non-profit organization established by pharma.be and Medaxes with the objective to collect and share reliable data on medicines delivered by pharmaceutical companies and distributors to healthcare…
Speaking exclusively to PharmaBoardroom, H.E. Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi outlines Abu Dhabi’s rapid progression towards becoming a global life science hub, how…
Serial entrepreneur Danny Yeung highlights the work of his Hong Kong-based genomics-driven firm Prenetics in prevention, early detection and targeted therapy. Having recently announced a USD 200 million joint venture…
Univercells is a group of companies founded a decade ago based around the concept of revolutionizing the availability of biologics around the world through making essential medicines affordable to all,…
Smart manufacturing has become a key component of today’s industrial evolution and unlocked unprecedented efficiencies and quality enhancements. Smart Manufacturing expert Eric Whitley outlines the specific benefits of smart manufacturing…
Luc Van Gorp is president of the Christian Mutuality, Belgium’s largest health insurance fund. In a wide-ranging recent conversation with PharmaBoardroom, Van Gorp expanded on some of the key themes…
Amira Younes of AbbVie UAE examines how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new ways of thinking about delivering regulatory effectiveness and efficiency in the region, and for flexibility…
Accord Healthcare’s Stefano Christoffersen outlines the strategy that has led to Accord becoming one of the fastest-growing generics and biosimilar companies in Europe, why the firm has chosen to focus…
During the ongoing BIO International Convention in Boston between June 5th and 8th, the US lobbying group has announced a new board chair in Ted Love as well as a…
Danish allergy specialist ALK will have a new CEO in 2024, with current incumbent Carsten Hellmann set to step down after a seven-year spell in the hot seat. Hellmann, 59,…
Gedeon Richter Benelux’s Isabelle de Walsche gives an update on the affiliate’s progress towards becoming a reference player in women’s health, looks back on some of her achievements over 11…
Pfizer’s relationship with the North African Kingdom of Morocco dates back 57 years, and the US pharma giant is the only major multinational with a manufacturing presence in the country.…
Representatives of Belgian associations for innovative pharma, generics and biosimilars, medtech, OTC, biotech, hospitals, and medical professionals share their key agenda priorities. These include where they feel that change is…
Stephan Van Nieuwenhove of Finnish national champion Orion Pharma outlines the company’s entrance into the Benelux markets, the significance of the recent acquisition of Belgian animal health firm Inovet BV,…
Ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the West have led the G7 group of countries to warn of the threat of “economic coercion” from China and the US to scrutinise…
Tabuk Pharmaceuticals is a Saudi success story, now established as one of the GCC region’s leading private pharmaceutical companies. Gulf Manager Ossama Salah Ramadan explains what attracted him to the…
Mohamed Abu Shawish discusses some of the core challenges facing rare disease patients in the GCC region and how Kyowa Kirin is engaging in multi-stakeholder partnerships across the healthcare sector…
Paul Newton of Vertex Pharmaceuticals – one of the first biotech firms to use an explicit strategy of rational drug design rather than combinatorial chemistry – outlines the company’s footprint…
The latest pharma industry news from Germany, including German lobbying efforts against EU pharma legislation; Evonik’s new lipid manufacturing plant; Bayer’s 2023 sales and earnings outlook; Boehringer Ingelheim new biotech…