A new study by Japanese researchers has shown how the loss of a key mitochondrial protein facilitates progression of Parkinson's disease (PD), identifying a new therapeutic target and hence the potential for the discovery and development of new PD treatments. Read More

HONG KONG – China has seen a huge spike in patent applications, many of which are for pharmaceutical products. However, regulatory agencies such as the CFDA have yet to adapt to the changing patent landscape and to cope with the rapid surge. Read More

HONG KONG – The collaboration between Merck & Co. Inc. and South Korean company Genexine Inc. is just a few steps away from tackling human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers, with Genexine receiving the go-ahead from the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for a phase Ib/II trial testing a combination vaccine. Read More

HONG KONG – CSL Ltd. has bought a majority stake in China's Wuhan Zhong Yuan Ruide Biological Products Co. Ltd. in a $352 million deal that should make the Australian biotech company a market leader. Read More

Dimerix Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, said research on CRISPR technology has been published in Scientific Reports. A research team at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has developed tools for studying functional receptor interactions in real time, which enabled them to validate the relevance of the Dimerix receptor-heteromer investigation technology (Receptor-HIT) platform technology to monitor receptor complexes by labeling and monitoring endogenous receptors with tags for bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Read More

HONG KONG – South Korean startup Orum Therapeutics Inc. has a shot at effectively blocking RAS gene function with an innovative technology co-developed with Ajou University in South Korea and last week raised $8 million in a series A round to advance work in oncology indications. Read More