HONG KONG – A Guangzhou-based biotech company is working with one of the most prestigious universities in China to build a new institute and raise a fund to drive the development of stem cell and regenerative medicine projects.

HONG KONG — Researchers here have elucidated a previously unknown signaling pathway involved in mediating the synaptic dysfunctions associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have identified a promising new small-molecule disease-modifying intervention that may delay progress of the disease.

TOKYO – Despite a protest by a 110-strong group of shareholders that comprises the founding family and former executives of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan's largest drug manufacturer, Christophe Weber has been approved as the company's first foreign president and chief executive officer.

HONG KONG – China has indicted two investigators linked to the bribery scandal that has rocked Glaxosmithkline plc. The couple – 58-year-old British man Peter William Humphrey and his 61-year-old American Chinese wife Yu Yingzeng – was arrested in Shanghai last August. Prosecutors at the No.1 branch of Shanghai Municipal Procuratorate announced the indictments on Sunday. The couple was charged with illegally obtaining private information of Chinese citizens. They may face up to three years imprisonment.

Suzhou Alphamab Co. Ltd. is among the new generation of Chinese biopharmas moving rapidly along the evolutionary curve from contract research activities such as high-throughput screening, analytical biology and process development to the construction of a pipeline of biosimilars and, most recently, the development of novel compounds directed at cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases.

Thrombogenics NV, of Leuven, Belgium, said Jetrea (ocriplasmin) was approved in Singapore for the treatment of adults with vitreomacular traction, including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns.

HONG KONG – Chinese pharmaceutical conglomerate Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. and Sellas Clinicals Holding AG have agreed to terminate an 8-month-old $530 million deal, which covered drug candidates for diabetes and cancer. Fosun said Sellas failed to settle a payment due. Sellas said Fosun declined to renegotiate terms of the deal, proposed because Sellas is seeking to do an initial public offering (IPO) and is realigning.

Sciclone Pharmaceutical Inc. is headquartered in the U.S. but it focuses its efforts in China, a market that is fast-growing and attractive, though also has its challenges.

SHANGHAI – As part of health care reforms, China has been piloting "zero markups" for drugs sold at hospitals for several years in a bid to reduce and rationalize the cost of health care. According to the State Council work plan, this year will see a significant expansion of the pilot, with half of all county-level hospitals and one city per province expected to have adopted the new drug pricing policy by the end of the year.