4/1 Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly Newsletter
2024-04-01 |
| Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly |
| China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) Developing iDREAM to Detect Sleep Apnea at Home Press release 30 March, 2024 Snoring can be an alarming sign of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Studies showed that 50% of individuals who snore may experience sleep apnea, which can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, intracerebral hemorrhage, stroke, and even sudden death during night-time in severe cases. Sleep Medicine Center at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH, Taiwan) has introduced iDREAM (Intelligent Detection of Respiratory Events through Automated Monitoring), incorporating Quanta's QOCA Portable ECG Monitoring Device, as a simple solution to efficiently detect symptoms of apnea patients during their sleep at home. More than 100 patients have been in clinical trials of iDREAM. With this AI-powered ECG analysis, CMUH's physicians are able to identify obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) more accurately and to reduce the time spent for diagnosis and treatment. More... |
| Bora, Onyx Healthcare, and BioLASCO participate in Creative Life Science's NT$200 million cash increase 6 March, 2024 On the 4th, microbiological testing company Creative Life Science Co., Ltd. announced the recent completion of a NT$204 million cash increase, introducing strategic investors, including Bora Pharmaceuticals, Onyx Healthcare, and BioLASCO Taiwan, all listed biopharmaceutical companies. The company has also outlined plans for a public offering and listing on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 2025. More... |
| GNTbm's Tucidinostat Makes Strong Advance in Late-stage Colorectal Cancer 26 March, 2024 GNTbm (TW: 7427) continues to invest research and development resources in the development of its orally administered anti-breast cancer drug candidate, Tucidinostat (also known as Kevatrin). The company is expanding the indications of Tucidinostat to include the treatment of advanced liver cancer, advanced colorectal cancer (MSS/pMMR), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, with the hope of assisting more cancer patients. More... (in Chinese) |
| Roche Pharmaceuticals Establishes Strategic Partnership with TTY Biopharm 26 March, 2024 Roche Pharmaceuticals announced that it will establish a strategic partnership with TTY Biopharm (TW: 4105) starting April 1st. Leveraging Roche's extensive experience in pharmaceutical research and development, the partnership aims to provide services such as clinical trials and academic research. By combining TTY Biopharm's distribution infrastructure, the collaboration seeks to expand the accessibility of drugs for treating colorectal cancer, lung cancer, glioblastoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer. This initiative aims to serve more patients in Taiwan and marks a new milestone in Taiwan's cancer treatment industry. More... (in Chinese) |
| Vice President Lai Ching-te: Taiwan's digital healthcare advancing into overseas markets 21 March, 2024 The Mt. Dadu Industrial Innovation Foundation held a forum in Taichung recently, discussing the advancement of Taiwan's smart healthcare into overseas markets. Vice President Lai Ching-te and Presidential Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung were among the attendees. In his address, Vice President Lai emphasized that the recent pandemic had steered medical practices towards smart healthcare. He hopes that Taiwan can leverage its longstanding foundations in medical services, ICT industry, and precision machinery. Through collaborative efforts, Taiwan can both establish itself and expand its influence globally, pioneering Taiwan's strength in digital healthcare, he mentioned. More... (in Chinese) |
| Acer Medical's Success: AI Medical Equipment Expands to Thai Hospitals 20 March, 2024 Acer Group's (TW: 2353) subsidiary Acer Medical (TW: 6857) has responded to the healthcare policy of Taiwan government's New Southbound Policy, and has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with two public hospitals in Thailand and successfully introduced VeriSee DR, an intelligent medical device under Acer Medical, for AI-assisted diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. This aims to enhance the quality of eye care for diabetic patients in Thailand. More... (in Chinese) |
| Medical device industry groups of Korea and Taiwan sign MOU 20 March, 2024 The Korea Medical Devices Industry Association (KMDIA) and the Taiwan Bio-Medical Care Association (TBMCA) signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday. KMDIA said on Wednesday that the MOU is designed to enhance information exchange and mutual trade in Korea and Taiwan's medical device markets and promote cooperative projects to support the members of both organizations. More... |
| NaviFUS's Focused Ultrasound for Epilepsy Treatment Research Published in International Journal 20 March, 2024 Innovative medical device research and development company, NaviFUS (TW: 6872) has published a study in the latest issue of the international journal Neurotherapeutics. The study focuses on the non-invasive treatment of epilepsy in the hippocampus of rats using focused ultrasound, which can prevent epilepsy-related injuries and protect nerves. Currently, many epilepsy patients show pathological changes in the hippocampus, leading to various cognitive complications and even the need for care from family members due to the inability to care for themselves. Enduring the discomfort of seizures and the risks of accidents imposes long-term psychological and economic burdens on individuals and their families. More... (in Chinese) |
| Formosa Pharmaceuticals Obtains US Authorization for its Ophthalmic Medication 19 March, 2024 Formosa Laboratories (TW: 4746) subsidiary Formosa Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6838) has developed a postoperative eye inflammation and pain medication, APP13007. Following the completion of Phase III clinical trials at the end of last year, authorization in the United States is expected to be finalized within one month. Simultaneously, plans are underway to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US FDA before April. More... (in Chinese) |
| Wiltrom Medical expands overseas market reach for its innovative medical devices 19 March, 2024 Wiltrom Medical (TW: 6767), the only domestically listed manufacturer of spinal medical equipment, develops high-end implantable medical devices and has been successful selling innovative medical devices developed in Taiwan on the international market. Wiltrom Medical's self-developed innovative vertebral expander, Tripod-Fix, was sold in Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, and Vietnam in 2023. In March 2024, it further cooperated strategically with TECRES SPA, a major bone cement manufacturer in Italy, to expand its distribution channels to six additional countries including Spain, Switzerland, Poland, and Greece through TECRES SPA's existing European channels. More... (in Chinese) |
| AVer and Shin Kong Security Revolutionize Remote Healthcare 18 March, 2024 AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of telehealth solutions, has partnered with Shin Kong Security (SKS), a Taiwan-based company principally engaged in the design, installation, and maintenance of security systems and equipment, to provide a comprehensive remote care service called “Care U”, which incorporates the AVer MD330U Telehealth Camera to enable home care providers to assist individuals in rural areas to transmit smooth 4K imaging to remote care centers, increasing the coverage of healthcare in rural areas. More... |
| A new trend in medical tourism - Healthcare and health maintenance in Taiwan 18 March, 2024 Hospitals in Taiwan possess high-end medical technology and equipment, and Taiwan is a world leader in certain specialties, including liver transplantation and reproductive medicine. Institutions here provide very cost-effective healthcare services and have a competitive advantage against the rest of the world in terms of the level of medical science and the quality of care. When you also consider that Traditional Chinese Medicine is practiced here side by side with Western medicine, Taiwan offers a two-track Chinese and Western medical and health-maintenance environment that is rare anywhere around the globe. More... |
| CMUH(Taiwan) Using AI to Monitor Home Hemodialysis Press release 18 March, 2024 Chronic Kidney Disease has become a new "national disease" in Taiwan, and the number of patients requiring hemodialysis is increasing. Traditionally, hemodialysis patients and accompanies require at least an hour spent on commuting, and that maybe even more time consuming for those who live in suburbs. Moreover, patients almost feel tired or fatigue and need rest half a day following hemodialysis. Since 2019 in Taiwan, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) has initiated and implemented AI monitoring system for hemodialysis patients. The unique AI system receives the messages sent by the dialysis machine to keep track of any risk message with incorporated AI system, ensuring patient safety and collecting information for prescription adaptation. Accredited with CMUH's AI technology, those who require hemodialysis are not necessary to visit a healthcare facility for this routine. Dr. Huey-Liang Kuo, Director of Hemodialysis Center at CMUH, stated that patients have been heathier and safer to do hemodialysis at home. More... |
| OBI Pharma Announces Poster Presentations at the AACR 2024 Annual Meeting for OBI-992 and GlycOBI™ ADC platform. Press release 18 March, 2024 OBI Pharma, Inc. (TPEx: 4174) today announced preclinical data for OBI-992, a potential best-in-class anti-TROP2 Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC). When evaluated against comparative TROP2 ADCs, OBI-992 demonstrated greater antitumor efficacy, superior PK/PD properties, and a favorable safety profile across various preclinical animal models. Additionally, preclinical data will be presented on the novel site-specific proprietary GlycOBI™ ADC platform, demonstrating improved in vivo efficacy and stability in animal model studies. More... |
| Taiwan attends HIMSS meeting, commits to enhancing digital health Press release 14 March, 2024 A delegation from Taiwan took part in the annual meeting of the Chicago-headquartered Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society March 11-15 in the U.S. city of Orlando, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Led by Li Chien-chang, director of the MOHW’s Department of Information Management, and officials from the National Health Insurance Administration and Office of Science and Technology, the group comprises around 50 academics, business representatives and medical personnel. More... |
| DCB Celebrates 40th Anniversary, Has Nurtured 3,000 Talents 14 March, 2024 Taiwan's Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB) celebrates its 40th anniversary today. In an announcement DCB's chairman Twu Shiing-Jer stated that 40 years ago today the center was established as the first biotechnology industry research and development institution in Taiwan, nurturing numerous outstanding talents for the industry in Taiwan. The DCB has more than 3,000 alumni dispersed across various sectors of industry, academia, and research, providing a crucial force for the upgrade and development of Taiwan's industries. More... (in Chinese) |
| HIV and Latent Tuberculosis Can Be Treated Simultaneously: Taiwan Research 14 March, 2024 The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Taoyuan Hospital has published a retrospective study on the simultaneous safe treatment of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and latent tuberculosis. The study found that the use of antiretroviral drugs for HIV did not affect the treatment efficacy during latent tuberculosis treatment. The research results have been published in the world-renowned infectious disease journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases. More... (in Chinese) |
| Genomics Secures Exclusive Agency Rights for Thermo Fisher Scientific 13 March, 2024 Taiwan gene sequencing company Genomics (TW: 4195) announced that it has deepened its partnership with global science service leader Thermo Fisher Scientific by signing an exclusive agency agreement to obtain the exclusive sales rights for part of its Laboratory Product Division (LPD) products in Taiwan. Through Genomics' comprehensive sales channels in Taiwan, this move aims to enhance Thermo Fisher Scientific LPD's market share and strengthen Genomics' portfolio of agency line products, thereby expanding operational growth momentum. More... (in Chinese) |
| Rigaku Opens Taiwan Branch to Enhance Collaboration and Innovation Press release 12 March, 2024 Rigaku, a global solution partner in X-ray-analysis proudly announces the opening of its new Rigaku Taiwan Branch ("RCTW"). This expansion marks a significant milestone in Rigaku's longstanding commitment to advancing the semiconductor electronics, life and material science ecosystem, particularly in Taiwan, a critical region for technological advancement. More... |
| ========================================= |
| 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 2024 (24-28 July, 2024) ========================================= Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (TBIO) Room C229, Bldg. C, No.99, Ln. 130, Sec. 1, Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei, Taiwan (11571) ========================================= |