China The US FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Shanghai-headquartered biotech CARsgen Therapeutics’ CAR-T cell therapy CT053 for multiple myeloma after positive results were observed in the phase I trial efficacy evaluation.   19 of 24 patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma showed complete response Zonghai Li, CARSgen Therapeutics…

Opinion Janssen Australia & New Zealand’s Bruce Goodwin argues that greater adoption of patient-centric practices is beneficial to patients, companies and healthcare systems as a whole. Goodwin also gives his five fundamental pillars to adopting a patient-centric approach.    We know that patient-centricity not only aids better healthcare, it also has…

China Competition is heating up among Asian stock exchanges hoping to lure the hottest prospects in Chinese biotech to list there. The newest competitor, Shanghai’s STAR Board, has already attracted over 100 companies, some of which have reconsidered listing on the Hong Kong Exchange, wary of the HKEX’s lukewarm performance.  …

China Earlier this year, PharmaBoardroom highlighted five of the most innovative and important biotech companies making waves in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market, China. Here, we pick out five more firms looking to crack both the Chinese and international markets.   EpimAB Biotherapeutics Founded in 2015, EpimAb Biotherapeutics is a privately owned…

Taiwan Taiwan boasts a booming life sciences sector and is striving to innovate through collaboration. Here we present five of the key executives and stakeholders who are aiming to drive the island’s life sciences sector forward.   Johnsee Lee – Chairman, Taiwan Bio Industry Organization Dr Johnsee Lee holds a number…

People Multinational pharma companies have been setting up shop in China ever since Novartis launched its Chinese affiliate in 1987, with other pharma giants following in its footsteps soon after, eager to penetrate the Chinese market. Affiliates in China are typically large organizations with several thousand employees. Leadership and communication skills…

Thailand Thailand has experienced a steady decline in infectious disease rates in the last generation thanks to the country’s commitment to life sciences research. The executive vice president of the National Science and Technology Development Agency elaborates on Thailand’s research on infectious diseases and how collaboration fuels further progress.    We…

Mental Health “Mental health is currently a major problem in China, and will become an ever greater problem unless effective interventions are put in place.”   Mental Health has Long Been a Serious Problem in China   The most populous nation in the world is said by some to be “in the…

Medical Cannabis Thailand has recently gained a new status as the first Asian country to legalise medical cannabis for medical treatment and research. In a sweeping move, the Thai parliament voted unanimously in favor of its legalisation in November 2018, with the bill then signed into law in early 2019.    Starting…

Thailand Thailand boasts one of the most attractive business and investment environments in the ASEAN region, and pharmaceutical companies implanted in the country benefit from a highly-skilled workforce and enabling infrastructure. Despite some areas in which the country can improve, as well as a degree of political uncertainty, experts still have…

Thailand Thailand is becoming an increasingly attractive location for pharma companies to conduct clinical trials, with multinationals such as Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim conducting more and more of their global trials in the country.   We are very active in engaging Thai doctors and patients in benefiting from involvement in…

Thailand Diabetes affects more than eight percent of the Thai population, a number that is on the rise, and nearly half of these cases remain undiagnosed. In light of this epidemic, local diabetes associations and multinational pharma companies based in Thailand are coming together to provide awareness, education, and support to…