9/16 Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly Newsletter
2024-09-16 |
| Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly |
| Japanese choosing Taiwan for IVF help, doctors say 11 September, 2024 Many Japanese couples are coming to Taiwan to obtain donated sperm or eggs for fertility treatment due to conservatism in their home country, Taiwan's high standards and low costs, doctors said. More... |
| SRM IST, CCU Taiwan jointly host ICPBSSC 11 September, 2024 India's SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) hosted the three-day International Conference on Precision Bio-Medicine and Sustainable Smart City Development (ICPBSSC) in collaboration with National Chung Cheng University (CCU), Taiwan. The conference attracted around 300 participants from various academic institutions, creating a vibrant forum for discussing cutting-edge advancements in technology, medicine, and sustainable development. More... |
| BROADSIMS builds a healthcare ecosystem and optimizes healthcare efficiency with a 5G smart patient monitoring solution Promotional article 11 September, 2024 Precise and complete physiological parameter monitoring plays a vital role in affecting the outcome of medical care and diagnosis. Medical institutions today use a variety of physiological monitoring devices. Without a way to integrate these devices, it is difficult to centrally manage patients' physiological data and this puts a burden on healthcare professionals. To address this, combining traditional physiological parameter monitoring and advanced ICT technologies, BROADSIMS introduces a 5G patient monitoring system featuring multiple physiological parameter sensors and connectivity with all kinds of medical applications and third-party devices. BROADSIMS' solution can significantly improve medical care efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. More... |
| Formosa Pharmaceuticals' new drug shipments recognized by foreign investment interest 10 September, 2024 Formosa Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6838) has benefitted from the shipment of its new eye disease drug, APP13007, to the US through its licensing partner Eyenovia. The drug is expected to be distributed starting in late September, leading to significant future revenue growth. On September 9th, the stock saw a surge in foreign investment, with a net purchase of 348 shares and the price hitting the daily limit of NT$43.75. Trading volume reached 2,906 shares, indicating strong short-term technical and volume support. More... (in Chinese) |
| Pan-COVID New Drug - SNS812 Achieves Superiority in Phase 2 Study Press release 10 September, 2024 Oneness Biotech and Microbio (Shanghai) announced that the pan-COVID New Drug, SNS812, co-developed by both companies achieves statistical significance with clinically meaningful endpoints in the Phase 2 trial. SNS812 has demonstrated good safety and efficacy in treating various virus strains including the currently prevalent strain JN.1 and many high immune-escape variants. More... |
| AmCad's smart medical devices achieve success in international study 10 September, 2024 AmCad BioMed (TW: 4188) continues to deepen its global market presence, focusing on expanding the clinical applications and value of its products. Recently, the company announced that its smart medical device has made a major advancement in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The device's results are consistent with those of CT scans, and the findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The study was a collaboration between AmCad BioMed and Thailand's Walailak University School of Dentistry, focused on analyzing key diagnostic indicators like the maxilla and tongue base in adults with severe OSA. Both CT scans and AmCad BioMed's ultrasound smart sleep detection device AmCAD-UO were used, with highly consistent results between the two methods. More... (in Chinese) |
| Microbio to unblind COVID-19 drug trial results 9 September, 2024 Following Bora Pharmaceuticals' acquisition spree, Microbio will not be left behind. Today the Microbio Group is set to hold a press conference to unveil the results of a randomized, double-blind Phase II trial for its COVID-19 treatment SNS812. This is expected to spark a new surge in biotech stocks, fueling the competition between Bora Group Chairman Bobby Sheng and Microbio Group Chairman William Lu, positioning them as prominent leaders in Taiwan's biotech industry. More... (in Chinese) |
| Global biopharmaceutical innovator PharmaEssentia launches new treatment Besremi for rare blood cancer in Singapore 9 September, 2024 PharmaEssentia Corporation (TW: 6446), a global biopharmaceutical innovator leveraging deep expertise and proven scientific principles to deliver new biologics in haematology and oncology, proudly announces the availability of BESREMi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) in Singapore. The country is the first market in Southeast Asia to introduce this breakthrough therapy for Polycythaemia Vera (PV). The launch coincides with MPN (Myeloproliferative Neoplasms) Awareness Day on 12 September, highlighting PharmaEssentia's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and advancing patient outcomes. More... |
| Senhwa Biosciences Presents clinical Data Abstract on Pidnarulex at 2024 ESMO Congress Press release 9 September, 2024 Senhwa Biosciences (TW: 6492), a drug development company dedicated to developing first-in-class therapeutics for oncology, rare diseases, and infectious diseases, announced the presentation of a poster abstract of its investigational drug, Pidnarulex, at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. The abstract highlights Pidnarulex's demonstrated efficacy in treating various solid tumors harbouring BRCA1/2 or PALB2 gene defects. This significant milestone underscores the promising potential of Pidnarulex in the realm of precision medicine. More... |
| Taiwan Bio Therapeutics to apply for IPO 8 September, 2024 Taiwan Bio Therapeutics (TW: 6892) recently announced that it has obtained an opinion letter from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Development Bureau, recognizing it as a technological enterprise with market potential, paving the way for its application to be listed on the stock exchange. The company generates revenue by providing high-end early-stage cell therapy CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services, which supports its cell drug development operations. This approach has led to revenue doubling for three consecutive years, with a gross margin maintained above 60 percent. More... (in Chinese) |
| Lotus Pharma Expands in Southeast Asia with Alpha Choay Acquisition from Sanofi 6 September, 2024 Lotus Pharmaceutical (TW: 1795), a multinational pharmaceutical company, has announced that its Board of Directors approved the acquisition of the trademark, marketing authorization, and manufacturing know-how of Alpha Choay in Vietnam and Cambodia from Sanofi. Upon the transaction's closing, Lotus will take immediate control of Alpha Choay's business in both markets, expanding its operational footprint in Southeast Asia. More... |
| Tanvex approves appointment of new CEO, set to lead biologics CDMO expansion 5 September, 2024 Tanvex (TW: 6541) has announced the appointment of Mr. Stephen Lam as CEO, effective September 5, 2024. The company aims to leverage Lam's over 35 years of global operational experience in large molecule formulation to manage daily operations across Taiwan and the US, including global CDMO business development and the launch of its own biosimilar products. This appointment follows Bora Pharmaceuticals' recent strategic investment and partnership with Tanvex to build an international-grade CDMO team, marking the start of a strategic integration to efficiently combine their strengths and capitalize on the increased local production outsourcing demand due to recent industry trends. More... (in Chinese) |
| EirGenix welcomes US order shift 5 September, 2024 The US-China biotech conflict has begun, leading to a shift in orders to Taiwanese companies. Following the onset of this battle, significant order shifts have been announced. EirGenix (TW: 6589) stated on the 4th that it has been receiving inquiries from the US market every month since April and expects to secure orders from the US by October this year. Industry expectations suggest that major domestic CDMO companies, including EirGenix, Mycenax, Tanvex BioPharma, Bora Pharmaceuticals, and Polaris Pharmaceuticals, are likely to benefit from this shift, presenting a significant new market opportunity in biotech for the next decade. Reports indicate that the US House of Representatives is set to vote on the Biosecure Act in September, which would restrict Chinese biotech and pharmaceutical giants from providing services to the US. This legislation would impose measures prohibiting federal contractors from engaging with five major Chinese companies: BGI Genomics, BGI Intelligent Manufacturing, Complete Genomics (a US subsidiary of BGI), WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Biologics. More... (in Chinese) |
| NHIA collaborates with international partners to evaluate health tech 4 September, 2024 The Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Health Insurance Administration hosted the APEC Workshop on Advancing Health Technology Assessment for Sustainable Universal Health Coverage Sept. 3 in Taipei City to discuss the building of stable health ecosystems. In addition to representatives from 12 other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the NHIA invited experts from the U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to deliver talks. Officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Taiwan's Caribbean ally Belize were also in attendance to discuss how medical services could be enhanced through the adoption of health technology assessment. More... |
| Taiwan Excellence Unveils Pioneering Medtech Innovation at Medical Fair Asia 2024 Press release 4 September, 2024 Medical Fair Asia 2024 returns for its 15th edition this year, reinventing the marketplace with technology and innovation amidst an evolving landscape. The event will be held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from 11th to 13th September 2024. Exhibited by Taiwan Excellence at booth numbers 2H01-2J08, this year’s Taiwan Excellence Pavilion brings together 16 Taiwanese companies who are leading in innovation and advancement in the medtech industry. Themed "Shaping The Future with Taiwan's MedTech Innovations", the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion showcases Taiwan's leading medical innovation and cutting-edge solutions, exemplifying the country’s commitment to advanced medical care. Visitors, including medical and healthcare organisations and professionals, can experience Taiwanese medical innovation that leverages advanced AI, imaging technologies and more. The showcase will cover three aspects of Taiwan's medtech innovations - Diagnostic Innovations, Treatment Innovations, and Innovations in Telemedicine and Digital Health Platforms. More... |
| Acepodia partners with Pfizer Ignite to advance cell therapies development 4 September, 2024 Taiwan-based biotechnology company Acepodia has entered a strategic clinical collaboration with Pfizer Ignite to support the development of its cell therapies in autoimmune diseases. Acepodia is a clinical-stage company developing advanced cell therapies with its unique antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) and allogeneic gamma delta 2 (??2) T-cell platforms. Pfizer Ignite is an end-to-end offering that uses US pharma giant Pfizer's resources, scale, and expertise to help biotech companies advance their development programmes. More... |
| SHL Medical commits to US$100 Million investment in Taiwan 4 September, 2024 SHL Medical, a global leader in pen injectors, announced its fourth signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, with the company committing to investing US$100 million (approximately NT$3.195 billion) in Taiwan over the next five years, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to strengthening its operations in the region. Founded in 1989, SHL Medical is one of the few international medical giants that originated in Taiwan. The company's pen-type auto-injectors are currently supplied to the world's top 25 pharmaceutical companies, benefiting 3.1 million patients worldwide as of 2023. In July, SHL announced its partnership with Great Honor Asset Management and held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility in Taoyuan, which is expected to be completed by 2027. The US$100 million investment will be used to upgrade equipment and optimize operations at its Taiwan site. More... (in Chinese) |
| Caliway Announces the Initiation of Subject Recruitment in CBL-514 Phase 2b Study for Dercum's Disease Press release 3 September, 2024 Caliway Biopharmaceuticals announced that the subject recruitment of CBL-514 Phase 2b study for Dercum's disease (CBL-0202 DD Phase 2b study, NCT06303570) has been initiated. The study results are anticipated in Q4 2025. CBL-0202DD study is a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2b study evaluating CBL-514 injection's efficacy and safety in treating Dercum's disease. A total of approximately 30 Dercum's disease subjects with four to ten painful lipomas will be enrolled in the study and randomized 1:1 into two groups to receive either CBL-514 or placebo once every 4 weeks for up to 5 treatments for each selected lipoma. More... |
| PharmaEssentia's Ropeg licensed to FORUS in Canadian market 2 September, 2024 PharmaEssentia announced that it has granted the marketing rights of its drug, Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg), for the treatment of Polycythemia Vera (PV) to FORUS Therapeutics in the Canadian market. The total potential milestone payments could reach up to approximately US$107 million (around NT$3.4 billion), with additional double-digit percentage royalties on future sales. There are estimated to be about 17,000 PV patients in Canada. PharmaEssentia has licensed Ropeg to FORUS specifically for the PV indication, with the possibility of expanding to other Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) in the future. Ropeg has already been approved for PV in approximately 40 countries, including major markets such as the United States, Japan, China, and the European Union. More... (in Chinese) |
| TaiMed Biologics reports on progress in clinical trials for AIDS drug 2 September, 2024 TaiMed Biologics (TW: 4147) has announced the completion of Phase IIa clinical trials for its long-acting TMB-365/380 combination therapy, designed for bi-monthly administration in AIDS treatment. This innovative monoclonal antibody combination aims to become a key player in the US$10 billion annual market for first-line maintenance therapies. With all participants having received their full dosage, the trial will now proceed with blood tests and follow-up assessments over the next few months, with preliminary results anticipated by the end of 2024 or early 2025. More... (in Chinese) |
| Experts at BTC meeting recommend Taiwan drug companies upgrade from manufacturing to innovation 29 August, 2024 The Executive Yuan's BioTaiwan Committee (BTC) meeting recently concluded, with the expert committee summarizing three major topics, six key directions, and 25 recommendations, focusing on smart innovation, biomedical sustainability, and a healthy Taiwan. Among the most innovative suggestions were the establishment of a health data service company by combining private sector resources with medical centers; and allowing public and private medical centers to directly or indirectly invest in biotech companies. More... (in Chinese) |
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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 2025 (23-27 July, 2025) ========================================= Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (TBIO) Room C229, Bldg. C, No.99, Ln. 130, Sec. 1, Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei, Taiwan (11571) ========================================= |