As COVID-19 deaths across the globe top 3 million, with more than 1 million in Europe alone, the global demand is increasing for mRNA vaccines, even as sponsors of adenovirus vaccines push back against ongoing safety concerns. Last week, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Europe reported that the confirmed COVID-19 death toll for the region had surpassed 1 million, with 1.6 million new cases being reported every week. More than 171 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the region, translating to nearly 13% of the European population receiving one dose and close to 6% completing both doses of the vaccines. Read More
HONG KONG – Laboring under the burden of a new wave of COVID-19 infections that have raised its case total to 15.3 million, second only to the U.S., India is ramping up its vaccination efforts by opening up COVID-19 vaccine availability to citizens 18 years or older from May 1, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, ensuring a steady vaccine supply for the world's second most populous country, with nearly 1.4 billion people, might prove to be an issue. So far, India has administered just over 124 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Read More
PERTH, Australia – Implicit Bioscience Ltd.’s lead candidate, IC-14, is the first anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody (MAb) to progress to the clinic as it enters a phase II trial in the U.S. in COVID-19 patients. Read More
HONG KONG – Beijing Stonewise Technology Co. Ltd., a med-tech firm that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in the discovery of small molecule drugs, closed series B and B+ financing rounds that added $100 million to its pocket. The company intends to use the proceeds to upgrade its AI-enabled drug discovery platform. Read More
Cross-border startup Scineuro Pharmaceuticals Ltd., which focuses on central nervous system (CNS) diseases, inked a deal with Eli Lilly and Co. to license in the greater China rights of alpha-synuclein-targeted antibody therapies to follow the global drug development trend in this space. Read More
With phase III data due from Phathom Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the near term, investor eyes are turning to the ways that lead compound vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, might distinguish itself from proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Read More
Now drugmakers can gain instant access to hospitals in Hainan province right after their innovative drugs are approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration to skip market entry hurdles. Read More
New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, including: Adagene, Antengene, Ascentage, Beigene, Eli Lilly, Innovent Biologics, Pharmabcine. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations in Asia-Pacific, including: Astellas, Astrazeneca, Biogen, Curevac Swiss, Cytodyn, Eli Lilly, Glaxosmithkline, Janssen, Kintor, Lintonpharm, Mayne, Mithra, Moleac, RDIF, Seagen, Shenzhen Chipscreen, Vir. Read More
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma in Asia, including: Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, World Health Organization. Read More
