PERTH, Australia – Australia is at risk of falling behind the U.S. and Europe in preventing recurrence of melanoma, the Melanoma Institute Australia warns. It is urging the Australian government to undertake a timely review of immunotherapy treatments effective in preventing the spread of melanoma and to fast track listings on the government-subsidized Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

SUZHOU, China – Under the "Healthy China" campaign, China has introduced a three-year action plan for preventing and treating cancer. The plan vows to speed up the marketing of cancer drugs in the country, even aiming for simultaneous marketing with other countries.

HONG KONG – South Korean biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion Group, of Incheon, and Korea Development Bank (KDB), a wholly state-owned policy development bank, have agreed to run a fund worth KRW220 billion (US$184 million) to grow venture companies in Korea's bio-health care sector.

SUZHOU, China, and HONG KONG – Despite investor worries over the long-term political and economic stability of Hong Kong after almost four months of social unrest and frequent violent protests, Chinese biotech executives remain optimistic about the outlook for the prospects for the market.

PERTH, Australia – The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking feedback on a proposal that to change Australia's medical device essential principles for safety and performance to more closely mirror the new EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR).

The Asia Pacific region (APAC) is vast and awash with varied economies, languages, governments and ambitions. That's the backdrop for its dramatic underperformance compared to the West's pharmaceutical innovations. Yet plenty of opportunities exist, along with a healthy dose of uncertainty, according to the first Pharmaceutical Innovation in the APAC region report, published by Clarivate Analytics plc.