China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted for review Hightide Therapeutics Inc.’s NDA for HTD-1801 for type 2 diabetes, marking the Shenzhen-based company’s first NDA submission and a major step toward commercialization.

The strife-marked Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) space drew forth another outspoken political figure in the shape of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), who said he was “enraged” by the U.S. FDA’s refusal to consider PTC Therapeutics Inc.’s Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of nonsense mutation disease.

Japan has approved the world’s first therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), marking a major milestone for regenerative medicine and, potentially, a turning point in treating Parkinson’s disease.

China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved Asieris Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s cold light photodynamic drug-device combination product, Cevira (APL-1702, hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride), which is used as a nonsurgical therapy for treating patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2.

The K-health MIRAE Initiative, also known as Korean ARPA-H, announced plans to allocate about ₩162 billion (US$110 million) in nine new projects over the next five years, with a focus on strengthening national health security.

Roche Holding AG pledged to invest ₩710 billion (US$484.6 million) in South Korea over the next five years, positioning the country as a major global hub for clinical trials. The near $500 million agreement inked with the Korean government will bring Roche’s clinical trials for common or incurable diseases and innovative biopharmaceutical products to the country.

Taiwan plans to invest NT$24 billion (US$752 million) over four years to bolster national biosecurity, expand domestic pharmaceutical production and safeguard against global supply chain volatility.

In releasing its latest revision of a draft guidance on biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars, the U.S. FDA took another step in streamlining the development of the follow-ons by easing unnecessary clinical pharmacokinetic testing involving comparator biologics approved outside the U.S.

Fast on the heels of the U.S. FDA’s go-ahead regarding the expanded use of Wellcovorin (leucovorin) tablets for cerebral folate deficiency in adult and pediatric patients with a confirmed variant in the folate receptor 1 gene – some of whom bear “autistic features” as part of their condition – the American Academy of Pediatrics advised against giving the drug to children with autism spectrum disorder.