China has added 119 new drugs to its national reimbursement drug list (NRDL) with an average price cut of 50.64%, a move that biopharmaceutical insiders said will further encourage drug innovation at home, despite lower drug prices. More innovative drugs, notably all homegrown PD-1 inhibitors, are included in the latest NRDL that will take effect from March 1, 2021 to the end of 2023. Read More
HONG KONG and BEIJING – China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. delayed releasing trial data from its Coronavac COVID-19 vaccine while the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) accepted an NDA from China National Biotec Group (CNBG) for its own vaccine, BBIBP-CorV. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Although Australians pay less for their drugs than patients in many other countries, Australia is falling behind when it comes to reimbursement for newer, targeted therapies, according to a report launched by Medicines Australia that assessed the timelines for registration and reimbursement of new medicines in Australia compared to 10 other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Read More
Following a better-than-expected commercial liftoff for the overactive bladder medicine Gemtesa (vibegron) in its first market, Japan, the Dec. 23 FDA approval for the medicine opens a new commercial chapter for Urovant Sciences, a company that’s on its way to being a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd.'s Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. Read More
HONG KONG – With the sale of a group of noncore assets to a little-known Chinese company, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. took another step in a multibillion-dollar string of divestitures that is part of a plan to cut debt and focus on five key business areas. Takeda announced on Dec. 21 the sale of a portfolio of noncore prescription drugs marketed in China to Hasten Biopharmaceutic Co. Ltd. (China). Read More
Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific, such as deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief, including: Abivax, Aldeyra, Alterity, Amgen, Ascentage, Aurobindo, Beigene, Bharat, Biontech, Cocrystal, Cullinan Oncology, Halberd, Hyundai, IMV, Merck, Ocugen, Open Orphan, Pfizer, Prep Biopharm, Recce, Resverlogix, Soligenix, Tonix, United Biomedical, Unity, Zai Lab. Read More
Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings, including: Arch Biopartners, Epsilon Molecular Engineering, Foresee, Gracell, Transcenta. Read More
Clinical updates from Asia, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications, including: Acticor, Aim Immunotech, Algernon, Apogenix, Ascentage, Astellas, Biocryst, Curevac, Dynavax, Gannex, Inovio, Kiniksa, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Novavax, Redhill, Revive, Serum Institute of India, Taiwan Liposome, Unity, Vicore. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Altimmune, Appili, Arctic Vision, Astrazeneca, Casi, Cytodyn, Dr. Reddy’s, Innocare, Innovation, Innovent Biologics, Inotrem, Juventas Cell Therapy, Merck, Shenyang Tonglian, Takeda. Read More
