Japan has approved the world’s first therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), marking a major milestone for regenerative medicine and, potentially, a turning point in treating Parkinson’s disease. Read More
China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved Asieris Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.’s cold light photodynamic drug-device combination product, Cevira (APL-1702, hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride), which is used as a nonsurgical therapy for treating patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2. Read More
On the heels of China’s approval of Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd.’s rovadicitinib, Sanofi SA is now inlicensing the first-in-class dual JAK/ROCK inhibitor in a deal worth more than $1.4 billion. Read More
Australia’s Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is advancing a potential challenger to Novartis plc’s dominant prostate cancer radioligand therapy, Pluvicto (lutetium [177Lu] vipivotide tetraxetan), after reporting that the safety lead-in portion of its global phase III Prostact trial met its primary objectives. Read More
Shortly after Amgen Inc. walked away from its partnership with Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd., the Tokyo-based company said it is discontinuing all ongoing clinical trials for rocatinlimab due to safety concerns. Read More
The K-health MIRAE Initiative, also known as Korean ARPA-H, announced plans to allocate about ₩162 billion (US$110 million) in nine new projects over the next five years, with a focus on strengthening national health security. Read More
Eli Lilly and Co. will invest $500 million to support South Korea’s biopharmaceutical industry over the next five years, following high-level talks March 9 between Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Lilly Executive Vice President Patrik Jonsson. Read More
Roche Holding AG pledged to invest ₩710 billion (US$484.6 million) in South Korea over the next five years, positioning the country as a major global hub for clinical trials. The near $500 million agreement inked with the Korean government will bring Roche’s clinical trials for common or incurable diseases and innovative biopharmaceutical products to the country. Read More
Taiwan plans to invest NT$24 billion (US$752 million) over four years to bolster national biosecurity, expand domestic pharmaceutical production and safeguard against global supply chain volatility. Read More
Although Aisa Pharma Inc’s cilnidipine (AISA-021) failed to meet the primary endpoint, multiple secondary endpoints showed statistically significant improvement in treating sclerosis-associated Raynaud's phenomenon, potentially positioning the drug for a phase III program in a disease with no approved oral therapies globally. Read More
Rapport Therapeutics Inc. added $20 million to its cash runway for its lead phase III oral seizure drug, RAP-219, through a potential $328 million license deal signed with Tenacia Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Read More
Twelve years on from the World Health Organization formally raising the alarm, antimicrobial resistance continues to grow, and despite numerous public and private incentives and initiatives, the pipeline of antibiotics in development is thinner than ever. Read More
Biopharma and med-tech happenings in Asia-Pacific, including deals and partnerships, and other news in brief: Bcworld, Beam, Bio Palette, Celltype, Congruence, Daiichi Sankyo, Gaia, Grünenthal, GSK, Immunis, Ono, Rapport, Rapt, Senhwa, Shanghai Jeyou, Sinopia, Takeda, Tenacia, Toray. Read More
Regulatory snapshots for biopharma and med tech in Asia-Pacific, including global submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Accord, Asieris, Claritas, Drug Farm, Foresee, Glenmark, Nxera, Hua Medicine, Innocare, Innovent, Meiji, Pepgen, Pharmaessentia, Protagonist, Sanofi, Sciwind, Sumitomo, Takeda. Read More
