7/4 Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly Newsletter
2023-07-04 |
| Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly |
| Pharmosa Biopharm signs distribution agreement with US-based Liquidia 29 June, 2023 Pharmosa Biopharm (6875) announced that it will use its new drug L606 for the treatment of two indications: Group 1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), and Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (PH-ILD), to enter the North American market, and has licensed the rights to US-based Liquidia for approximately US$225 million (approximately NT$7 billion). With L606 already entering Phase III clinical trials, once the product is launched Pharmosa Biopharm is set to receive double-digit royalty payments based on sales net revenue. Additionally, for additional indications or other L606 derivative products, Pharmosa Biopharm is entitled to receive milestone payments of US$10 million each for product development. According to the announcement, Pharmosa Biopharm will be responsible for the cGMP production of L606, from clinical development to the sales stage, and the product will be sold to Liquidia at an agreed price. More... (in Chinese) |
| Center Laboratories Makes Inroads into the Probiotics Market in South Korea 29 June, 2023 Targeting the US$1.27 billion probiotics market in South Korea, Center Laboratories announced that its subsidiary, CJC Pharma, and four Korean companies, including leading health food company Nutrione, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop new functional probiotic materials. The collaboration will include clinical and academic research as well as marketing strategy plans, and will aim to expand their joint business footprint. In addition to Nutrione, the companies participating in this strategic cooperation include Bigsomebio, a subsidiary of the Lotte Group; Neo Cremar, a professional raw material manufacturer; and Cosmax NBT, the largest OEM/ODM company in Korea, with these companies playing crucial roles in the Korean health supplement industry chain. More... (in Chinese) |
| Merdury Biopharmaceutical and DKSH Vietnam Sign Cooperation Agreement to Enter Southeast Asian Market 28 June, 2023 Merdury Biopharmaceutical (6932) has signed a cooperation agreement with DKSH Vietnam Co., Ltd. DKSH will assist Medury in submitting drug registration applications to the Vietnamese health authorities, starting with the cooperation project involving metformin. DKSH will serve as the exclusive distributor of Medury's blood glucose-lowering drug metformin in Vietnam, selling it through local channels. Medury stated that there will be opportunities for further collaboration in other projects in the future, expanding into the Vietnamese and other Asian markets. Through this partnership with DKSH, the company's pharmaceutical distribution and promotion in the Vietnamese market will be smoother. DKSH, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss stock exchange, has been operating in Asia for over 150 years. Its healthcare business covers 14 key markets in Asia. DKSH has been present in Vietnam for nearly a century, with a complete pharmaceutical distribution network and logistics infrastructure, as well as a clear understanding of the local regulatory framework and market development. More... (in Chinese) |
| BIO Asia-Taiwan 2023 Exhibition is coming! 28 June, 2023 BIO Asia-Taiwan 2023 is coming, with the exhibition component kicking off on July 26th at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 (TaiNEX1), running for five days. This year, the event will be focused on AI-enabled healthcare, cell therapy, precision medicine, BIO+ICT, and will cover the latest international trends, such as weight loss drugs. The Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO), the co-organizer of BIO Asia-Taiwan 2023, announced that this year's exhibition will feature 750 prominent companies and 2,000 booths. Both the number of participating companies and booths surpass the pre-pandemic level of 2019. More... (in Chinese) |
| Foresee Pharmaceuticals Announces Completion of US$42.3 Million Financing Press release 27 June, 2023 Foresee Pharmaceuticals (TPEx: 6576), ("Foresee") announces that it has successfully completed an underwritten public offering of 17,500,000 shares of its common stock to the public at a price of NT$75 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to Foresee from the offering were NT$1,312.5 million (or US$42.3 million at FX=31). More... |
| NHRI team makes cancer breakthrough 27 June, 2023 A [Taiwan] National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) research team has developed an antibody for treating pancreatic fibrosis and cachexia in people with pancreatic cancer, the institute said yesterday, adding that they aim to start clinical trials in two years. More... |
| BIOptic acquires CatchGene to span operation in genetic testing for cancer 27 June, 2023 BiOptic Inc. announced that it had acquired 100 percent of the shares of CatchGene for NT$48 million, thus officially entering the cancer genetic testing market and taking a step towards becoming a full-service molecular testing solution provider. More... |
| BioGend Therapeutics develops advanced bone material 25 June, 2023 BioGend Therapeutics (TW: 6733) announced that the company's new bone graft material, known as "Osteoinductive Factor (OIF)," is expected to enter Phase III clinical trials next year through a licensing partnership with a subsidiary in Japan. The company expects to establish a manufacturing operation in Japan next year, with production to begin in 2025. This facility will serve as an assembly base for BioGend's international market expansion. BioGend's future development will focus on three main directions, according to the announcement. Firstly, targeting the Taiwanese market, where BioGend's antibiotics have obtained National Health Insurance reimbursement, they are expected to become a major contributor to the company's future performance. Additionally, the company plans to expand the hospital distribution system for their disposable cartilage repair system, RevoCart. BioGend also acquired adipose-derived stem cell (SVF) products and technology through its merger with Averstem Therapeutics. It is expected that there will be increased shipments and revenue contribution from SVF products in the middle of next year. More... (in Chinese) .jpg) |
| Diamond Biofund the first in Taiwan listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange 21 June, 2023 The Taiwan Stock Exchange has approved the listing of Diamond Biofund, making it the first in Taiwan a venture capital firm has been publicly listed. More... |
| AmCad BioMed partners with NTU dentistry at SLEEP 2023 in the US 20 June, 2023 One of the treatment methods for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the use of mandibular advancement devices (MADs), but not all patients benefit from wearing them. Recently, the Dentistry Department of National Taiwan University (NTU) announced that they had collaborated with AmCad BioMed (TW: 4188). Utilizing ultrasonic intelligent sleep testing to observe the tissue structure of the upper airway, together they were able to effectively identify the suitability of MADs for precise treatment. This achievement was also presented at the SLEEP 2023 conference held in the United States this month. Professor Chen Yun-zhi, chief physician in the Dentistry Department at NTU, pointed out that based on decades of clinical observations it is indeed possible to predict the suitability of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) by observing the tissue structure and morphology of the patient's upper airway. However, previous clinical observations using MRI imaging was often inconclusive. In this collaboration, the use of AmCad BioMed's ultrasonic intelligent sleep testing not only reaffirmed the previous clinical observations but also provided a non-invasive and radiation-free ultrasound imaging system, enabling faster and more accurate assessment of the success rate of MADs. It is believed that this approach will be easier to implement in clinical settings. More... (in Chinese) |
| The Bright and Sustainable Future of Merck Interview 20 June, 2023 As the light shines through the glass ceiling on the top floor of Merck's Taoyuan facility, John Lee, managing director of Merck Group Taiwan, holds an online meeting. Though temperatures outside are rising, the inside remains cool. As the sun comes out from behind a cloud, the windows darken slightly to ensure the room is comfortably lit. This is because Merck in its Taoyuan and Kaohsiung facilities has installed its own breakthrough eyrise dynamic liquid crystal windows, which can darken their tint in a second by regulating the sunlight coming into the room and maintaining a comfortable room temperature, and will help reduce energy consumption. More... |
| Gilead Taiwan's Commitment: Working Together to Eliminate Hepatitis C Interview 20 June, 2023 Hepatitis C is the second leading cause of liver disease after Hepatitis B. However, it can now be cured with oral antiviral medications. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the goal of eradicating viral hepatitis by 2030, and Taiwan has set the goal of eliminating Hepatitis C by 2025. More... |
| Backed by investors and tech giants, CHO Pharma aims to license its cancer drug H01 Press release 20 June, 2023 The Board of Directors of CHO Pharma Inc. recently approved issuance of up to 30 million common shares with the participation of Fubon Financial Holdings and a number of major technology companies. The company's Chairman, Dr. Chao-Long Chen, said that the company's R&D capabilities and drugs have gradually demonstrated their value over the past decade, with clinical data from the Phase I/IIa clinical trial of its first glycoengineered homogenous antibody new drug, H01, being released in the third quarter of this year. This year's priority of CHO Pharma is to focus on licensing with a multinational pharmaceutical company. More... |
| Taiwan's Biotech Brilliance Shines at BIO 2023: Unveiling Cutting-Edge Discoveries and Strategic Partnerships 20 June, 2023 Under the leadership of Dr. Wu Tsung-tsong, Minister of Science and Technology Council, a large Taiwan delegation with about 250 members traveled to Boston to attend BIO 2023. The executive team consisted of consisted of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office (BPIPO) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), along with representatives from the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), National Science and Technology Council, Council of Agriculture, National Development Council, Academia Sinica, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB). More... |
| Sunway Biotech Collaborates with Great Tree Pharmacy in Malaysia 19 June, 2023 Health food manufacturer Sunway Biotech (TW: 1271) announced that it will establish a joint venture company with leading chain pharmacy Great Tree Pharmacy in Malaysia for the sales of health food products. Leveraging their strengths in the health food business, the joint venture company will establish its own brand of health food to enter the Malaysian market and explore business opportunities in ASEAN markets. Sunway Biotech stated that as people are increasingly focusing on their health after the pandemic, the has been building its technological capabilities and exploring possibilities for various product formulations. By partnering with Great Tree Pharmacy, Sunway Biotech intends to utilize the strengths of both parties in brand management, sales channels, and R&D, integrating their resources for maximum synergy. This collaboration will contribute to bringing excellent health products to the market, according to the announcement. More... (in Chinese) |
| Taiwanese pharmaceutical sector turns to invest in ADCs 19 June May, 2023 Since this year, a number of Taiwan's biotech companies have announced that they have entered the ADCs (Antibody-Drug Conjugates) market, starting with HoneyBear Biosciences, which invested by the major API manufacturer SCI Pharmtech, and Bora Pharmaceuticals, PharmaEssentia, OBI Pharma and Tanvex BioPharma. More... |
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| Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO) Contact: Daisy Tsai Tel: +886 2 27836028 ext 14 FAX : +886 2 27836027 Mobile: +886 933-139647 | Line ID : daisy222 Email: daisy@taiwanbio.org.tw BIO Asia-Taiwan July 26-30, 2023 ============================== Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (TBIO) Room C229, Bldg. C, No.99, Ln. 130, Sec. 1, Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei, Taiwan (11571) ============================== |