HONG KONG – With increasing demand for drugs targeting chronic diseases in China, investment from multinational pharma giants is set to rise, leading to possible benefits for local firms as well. Much of the focus is likely to be on cancer. Read More

HONG KONG – Aware of the challenges that lie ahead in China and the need for further investment to expand, drug, device and medical products distributor Cardinal Health may be looking for ways to divest some of its operations, announcing that it has “begun to explore strategic alternatives to support its next stage of growth.” Read More

HONG KONG – In a study led by Australian scientists at University of New South Wales (UNSW), introducing a beneficial natural mutation into blood cells using gene-editing was shown to stimulate production of fetal hemoglobin (Hb), a finding that could lead to a cure for blood diseases. Read More

Fujifilm Corp., of Tokyo, said its Alzheimer’s disease (AD) candidate, T-817MA, missed its primary endpoints of cognition or global clinical function in a U.S. phase II trial that enrolled individuals with mild to moderate AD. No significant differences were seen in secondary outcomes. In exploratory analyses, change of the cerebrospinal fluid biomarker phospho-tau, or p-Tau, benefited from higher dose treatment while hippocampal volumes decreased less in the lower dose group – a finding that met statistical significance. Read More

Tessa Therapeutics Pte Ltd., of Singapore, appointed Jennifer Butler chief commercial officer. She will be responsible for driving the global launch and commercialization strategy of Tessa’s advanced T-cell therapy pipeline, including the company’s lead product, TT10, which is currently in a global Phase III trial for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Butler will be based in the U.S. and will be leading the expansion of the company’s U.S. business operations. Read More

HONG KONG – Hong Kong-listed company Uni-Bio Science Group Ltd. now has Chinese conglomerate Heungkong Group as a strategic shareholder as it works to expand its distributing network, build biotech incubation centers and search for international M&A deals. Read More

HONG KONG – After a prolonged negotiation process, China has secured drug prices that are, in some cases, much lower than those in Europe and other developed markets. Read More

HONG KONG – The Chinese drug registration authority has approved the phase III trial of a cancer drug in the first open meeting it ever held, clearing the way for late-stage testing of an oncolytic immunotherapy drug developed by Korean biopharma company Sillajen Inc. and its Chinese partner, Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd. Read More