Bioq Pharma Inc., of San Francisco, said the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the company's Ropivacaine Readyfusor for the treatment of postsurgical pain in adults via continuous peripheral nerve block and continuous wound infiltration. It's a disposable, ready-to-use, single-use infusion product prefilled by the manufacturer with 0.2 percent ropivacaine, a non-narcotic local anesthetic. Read More

PERTH, Australia – Australian cell therapy developer Mesoblast Ltd. is moving to phase III trials with its allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cell therapy to treat chronic low back pain due to intervertebral disc degeneration. Read More

A Chinese study has reported a promising new approach to the prevention and treatment of cholesterol gallstone disease (CGD), by reducing the biliary output of cholesterol via activation of constitutive androstane receptors (CAR), which are present in tissues of the liver and small intestine. Read More

HONG KONG – Malaysia-based CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing biosimilars market in Southeast Asia (SEA), following the success of a phase III trial of its erythropoietin (EPO) biosimilar for kidney dialysis. The Kuala Lumpur-based company is set to commence registration of the drug and further strengthen its position in the Malaysian market. Read More

TOKYO – Though Japan's drug sector will maintain a pro-innovation policy with the aim to maximize patient value, discussions between the country's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PHRMA) showed stark differences in opinions. Read More