Following news of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 10% across-the-board tariffs on Australian exports to the U.S., Australia’s Securities Exchange shed nearly AU$55 billion in losses Thursday morning. Even so, pharmaceuticals have escaped the tariffs for now. In China, Trump’s tariffs are not a big concern for China’s health care because drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients are exempted from the tariffs. Even if tariffs are imposed in the future, Chinese pharmaceutical companies have already significantly de-risked themselves in recent months by increasing out-licensing models with U.S. partners.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration floated a draft rule on risk classification for in vitro diagnostics, which does not apply to home use tests, the subject of impending rulemaking.
Opthea Ltd. is considering its options after lead candidate sozinibercept (OPT-302) failed the phase III Coast trial in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The global Coast phase III trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravitreally administered 2-mg sozinibercept every four or eight weeks in combination with 2-mg aflibercept every eight weeks after a loading phase for the treatment of wet AMD. The trial did not meet its primary endpoint of mean change in best corrected visual acuity from baseline to week 52.
In a move that echoes tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobby is taking aim at most of the world for unfair trade practices in its special 2025 Special 301 Report to the U.S. Trade Representative.
Opthea Ltd. is considering its options after lead candidate sozinibercept (OPT-302) failed the phase III Coast trial in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The global Coast phase III trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravitreally administered 2-mg sozinibercept every four or eight weeks in combination with 2-mg aflibercept every eight weeks after a loading phase for the treatment of wet AMD. The trial did not meet its primary endpoint of mean change in best corrected visual acuity from baseline to week 52.
Smsbiotech Inc. has gained clearance in Australia to begin a phase I trial of its small mobile stem (SMS) cell therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
An Australian man in his 40s with severe heart failure was implanted with a Bivacor Inc. total artificial heart (TAH) and has been discharged from the hospital. He remained at home with the artificial heart for 100 days until he received a transplant earlier this week.
A slow-down in EU medical device audits due to the long-delayed transition to the EU Medical Device Regulation is leading to increased applications to Australia as small businesses bypass Europe altogether.
Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Ltd. is preparing to launch its allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy, Ryoncil, (remestemcel-L), in March in the U.S. and has priced the treatment at roughly $1.55 million for a full course.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has once again decided against approving Eisai Australia Pty Ltd.’s amyloid beta binder, Leqembi (lecanemab), for treating patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease and mild Alzheimer's dementia.
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