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. Read More

SHANGHAI – The five month old GPCR Consortium – which brings together industry and academics to explore the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family of proteins – has added two new pharmaceutical members to its fold. It now counts Novo Nordisk AS and Merck & Co. Inc. as members in addition to founding members Amgen Inc., Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Sanofi SA. The partners provide not just funding to the research consortium's efforts. Read More

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. Read More

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. Read More

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. Read More

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." Read More

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. Read More