LONDON – The COVID-19 outbreak appears to be sliding toward pandemic status, with the virus spreading to four more countries and confirmed cases and deaths mounting in infection hotspots in Italy, Iran and South Korea. Parts of northern Italy are in lockdown, with 200-plus cases and seven deaths. Austria and Switzerland are reported to be considering closing their borders with Italy, and the EU has responded with a €232 million (US$252 million) package of aid, including €90 million for development of a vaccine and €10 million for therapeutics and diagnostics. Read More

BEIJING – As the clock ticks on COVID-19’s spread, Chinese biotech companies are hoping to unleash the power of cloud computing and artificial intelligence to find a cure for the virus. Read More

HONG KONG – Fujifilm Holdings Corp. stock (TYO:4901) jumped 8.8% to ¥5,890 (US$53.48) on Feb. 25, as Japan considers using Avigan (favipiravir), an anti-influenza medication developed by the company’s Toyama Chemical Co. Ltd., to treat COVID-19. The share price ended the day at ¥5,567, for a gain of 2.83%. Read More

Paris-based Sanofi SA, responding to increasing medicine shortages and drugmakers' heavy reliance on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) sourced from Asia, said it plans to create a major new API manufacturer headquartered in France. Read More

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged COVID-19 is spreading, they say it has not yet reached pandemic disease status. Read More

LONDON – Six weeks on from the initial alert, “the window of opportunity” to control the COVID-19 epidemic is “narrowing,” according to the latest assessment from WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Read More

BEIJING – Chinese biosimilar maker Bio-Thera Solutions Ltd., of Guangzhou, on Feb. 21 launched a pre-revenue listing on Shanghai’s STAR market to reap $241 million at a valuation of almost $2 billion. Read More

HYDERABAD, India – Multinationals and domestic companies are stepping up research in India, including working to leverage the country’s digital and entrepreneurial capabilities, to boost India’s capabilities and market share in more innovative biologic drugs. Read More

HYDERABAD, India – India could play a key role in driving down the exorbitant cost of emerging cell and gene therapies, with a combination of comparatively cheap labor and efficient manufacturing, international experts said during the annual BioAsia conference. Read More

Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: Aim Immunotech, Almirall, Alvogen Korea, Beijing Innocare, Beroni, Beximco, Cocrystal, Enlivex, Genetron Health, Glaxosmithkline, Hummingbird Bioscience, Immunoprecise Antibodies, Innovation, Medivir, Mesoblast, Molecular Templates, Mycenax, Mylan, Paratek, Sanofi, Shanghai Hile, Shijiazhuang Yuanmai, Sichuan Clover, Stonewise, Takeda, Viva, Vivus, Wuxi Biologics. Read More

The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: FDA, COVID-19, Eastgate, India’s Central Drug Standard Control Organization, India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, SEC.

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Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings, including: Biolexis, Canbridge, Outlook. Read More

Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: Eisai, Harbour Biomed, Immutep, Isofol Medical, Kowa Research Institute, Molecular Templates, Ribomic, Zelira. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Ascentage, Ascletis, Astellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Seattle Genetics, Seqirus, Takeda. Read More