Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, appointed James Kehoe chief financial officer and corporate officer, effective June 15. He will be based in Tokyo. Read More

Regeneus Ltd., of Sydney, said it completed enrollment of all 20 patients in the STEP (Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Progenza) phase I trial. Progenza is an allogeneic off-the-shelf stem cell product for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending-dose study is evaluating the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of intra-articular Progenza in adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Read More

TOKYO – Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has formed a new venture in the U.S. backed with $50 million to search for oncology start-ups in which to invest. Taiho Ventures said it will look for companies that "discover and develop innovative therapeutic products and/or drug-enabling platform technologies that demonstrate a clear potential to benefit cancer patients." Read More

HONG KONG – A new study has demonstrated for the first time that nanomolar concentrations of a candidate cancer compound may also have therapeutic value in the field of stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration, Chinese researchers reported in the May 9, 2016, early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read More

BEIJING – Global communications and regulatory adaptations could help China's drug approval system continue to improve and better tap into the potential created by a trend toward more global simultaneous drug development, but future progress will depend on how "pretty" new regulations are put into practice. Read More

If any doubts still existed, several teams of researchers have reported the first direct experimental evidence that both Asian and Brazilian strains of Zika virus can cause microcephaly when they infect pregnant mice. Read More

SUZHOU, China – In just under two years, Shanghai-based start-up Zai Labs Inc. has attracted the interest of large multinational pharmaceutical companies looking for a research, development and commercialization partner to navigate China's regulatory challenges and reach its large and untapped market potential. Read More

SUZHOU, China – China's economy is evolving rapidly and the new normal of slower growth has arrived. But don't tell the folks in China's life sciences industry, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise messy time of economic transition. The sector enjoyed what Greg Scott, founder of Chinabio LLC calls "explosive growth" last year. Read More

HONG KONG – In a move to improve its drug manufacturing, research and development capacity as well as to strengthen its international presence, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co. Ltd. made an offer to acquire a 96 percent stake in Indian drugmaker Gland Pharma Ltd. Read More