NEW DELHI – In a test of India's law requiring sponsors of patented drugs to manufacture sufficient quantities in country, Cipla Ltd.'s challenge of Novartis AG's Indian patent for its chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) drug Onbrez is raising questions about access, price and the correct way to contest a pharmaceutical patent.

HONG KONG — The results of a study by Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo have helped to elucidate the previously unknown underlying mechanism whereby two commonly prescribed drugs in patients at risk for heart disease can adversely interact, a finding that could lead to improved clinical care of patients taking those medications.

HYDERABAD, India – A slew of measures to cut down the approval times for clinical trials, streamline regulatory guidelines and strengthen safety is helping India regain some traction as a site for trials – traction lost in the years through 2013.

TOKYO –Japan's Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), which works with several Japanese ministries, pharmaceutical companies and other nonprofit organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched a "Grand Challenge" that will see it invest up to $1 million per applicant "for the early stage development of radically new and improved drugs, vaccines or diagnostics to prevent and treat infectious diseases that are prevalent in developing countries."

Wuxi Pharmatech Inc., of Shanghai, entered a syndicated loan facility to borrow up to $165 million from a consortium of banks in Asia led by Citibank. The borrowing will incur interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.89 percent, including all expenses, and will be repaid in four installments over 18 months to 36 months, the company said.

HONG KONG – China surpassed the U.S. and Japan in 2013 to become the No. 1 patent-filing country in the world with more than 600,000 applications in 2013. A significant chunk of that activity was in the general pharmaceutical space, with more than 20,000 patents filed.

HONG KONG – Shanghai-based Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (CBMG), having gotten its start in autologous stem cells has strengthened its position in another area of regenerative cellular therapy, cancer immuno-oncology, with the acquisition of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) technology and data from the People's Liberation Army General Hospital (PLAGH) in Beijing.

HONG KONG – South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has approved the country's first tissue-specific osteoarthritis drug, which its manufacturer hopes will soon grab 10 percent of the Korean arthritis market.

TAIPEI, Taiwan – As the momentum surrounding high-growth Asian markets seemingly slows, the standing of Taiwan as an innovation and financing center for biotech interests is still strong, at least on the basis of regional comparison. But while public capital markets are vibrant and local valuations high, big international investors remain largely elusive. So say speakers at the Biologics World Taiwan 2015 conference.