BEIJING – Biotech companies in China were among the first to experience disruptions in their operations and development plans from the COVID-19 outbreak, with employees unable to report to work and difficulties continuing trials. Read More

The number of biopharmas and nonprofits pitching in to find a treatment for COVID-19 continues to grow. In the past few weeks, that number has more than doubled and it shows no signing of slowing. Read More

The past week has seen a lot of movement in terms of tests to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. “It is notable that the diagnostics community is coming together in a way we have not seen in our 20 years covering this industry,” wrote William Blair analyst Brian Weinstein in a March 14 note. “Regulators, lab professionals, and manufacturers are all in a frenetic fury to try and get testing up and running, and we generally see a sense of ‘in it together’ playing out.” Read More

Mainz, Germany-based Biontech SE has struck two deals in its Project Lightspeed, one for inside China and one for outside China, to develop and commercialize a COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) prevention vaccine. The agreements caused the stock (NASDAQ:BNTX) to soar 29.3%, or $9.07, to close at $40 on Monday in the midst of a bear market. Read More

BEIJING – Arctic Vision (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has in-licensed from Clearside Biomedical Inc. the commercialization and development rights of Xipere for greater China and South Korea. Read More

Undetected cases were a major driver of the early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China, despite being less infectious on a case-by-case basis, according to a modeling study published in the March 16, 2020, online issue of Science. Read More

PERTH, Australia – While the coronavirus captures the world’s attention, another global pandemic is quietly killing 100 million people under the age of 60. Read More

PERTH, Australia – Mesoblast Ltd. plans to evaluate remestemcel-L in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S., Australia, China and Europe. Read More

LONDON – The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic, but is pushing back strongly against countries giving up on stringent control measures. Read More

Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: Abcellera, Airway, Arctic Vision Shanghai, Athenex, Aytu, Biogen, Brii, Chembio Diagnostics, Clearside, Context, Correvio, Cytovance, Eli Lilly, Emergent Biosolutions, GT Biopharma, Hitgen, Hong Kong Teson, I-Mab, Immunoprecise Antibodies, Innovation, Kaken, Kamada, Kirin, La Jolla, Lattice, Lumiradx, Mallinckrodt, Medicago, Mesoblast, Nanoviricides, Nicox, Novavax, Ocumension, Olix, Oncosec, Pharmamar, Pluristem, Protalix, Qiagen, Roche, Sengenics, TFF, Tiziana Life Sciences, Twist, Tyligand, Vir, Xavier Saelens, Xortx, Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech. Read More

Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings, including: Biocure Pharm, Bristol Myers Squibb, Harbour Biomed, Life Sciences Partners, Otsuka, Quest Pharmatech, Tiziana Life Sciences. Read More

The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: U.S. Trade Representative, World Trade Organization. Read More

Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: Moderna, Regeneron, Sanofi, Santen, Takeda, Tracon. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Cytodyn, Zai Lab. Read More