HONG KONG – The results of a positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging study in monkeys suggest that the anesthetic, ketamine, may help in the diagnosis of major depressive disorder in humans and development of new antidepressants, report Japanese researchers from the Riken Center for Life Science Technologies.

HONG KONG – Looking to Japan for new funds, an embattled Seattle-based drug developer plans to issue shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the hopes of raising as much as $125 million to develop ophthalmic treatments.

SHANGHAI – The Chinese-American joint venture Kunshan Riboquark Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has raised ¥42 million (US$7 million) in venture capital financing to develop QPI-1007, an ocular neuroprotectant that uses small interfering RNA technology (siRNA) to stop the progression of glaucoma.

HONG KONG – Among the fastest-growing specialty pharmaceutical companies in China, Eddingpharm Inc. has made a move to consolidate domestic and international oncology drug development through a deal that could be worth as much as $95 million.

HONG KONG – A compound derived from a traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been shown effective at alleviating pain in animal studies and may prove to be an effective non-addictive analgesic for relief of acute inflammatory and nerve pain, Chinese and U.S. researchers report.

HONG KONG – Epirus Switzerland GmbH expanded its focus on emerging markets via a new licensing deal with India’s largest maker of generics and biosimilars.

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., of Haifa, Israel, was issued Australian patent No. 2008300185, “Methods for Cell Expansion and Uses of Cells and Conditioned Media Produced thereby for Therapy,” which covers the use of adherent placental cells for the treatment of ischemia, a restriction of blood supply to tissues, and for treatments of conditions that require connective tissue repair or regeneration.

Albany Molecular Research Inc., of Albany, N.Y., appointed Vijay Kumar Batra managing director, AMRI India. Batra was previously with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., most recently as vice chairman and managing director, Teva API India.

Mezzion Pharma Co. Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea, said it signed a deal with New England Research Institutes Inc., which is authorized by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-supported Pediatric Heart Network to manage and conduct clinical trials.