12/9 Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly Newsletter
2024-12-09 |
| Taiwan Life Sciences Biweekly |
| PhytoHealth's cancer fatigue drug RWE data: 91 percent of patients improved 4 December, 2024 PhytoHealth (TW: 4108) announced that its novel drug for cancer-related fatigue, which has been included in Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage since March 2021, has significantly benefited late-stage breast cancer patients. The company recently released its first real-world evidence (RWE) data, showing that 91 percent of patients experienced improvement, and 85 percent were evaluated by physicians as achieving overall positive treatment effects. More... (in Chinese) |
| BIONET Therapeutics to debut on Emerging Stock Market, leveraging exosome and AI technologies to target regenerative medicine market 3 December, 2024 BIONET Therapeutics (TW: 7808), a subsidiary of the BIONET Group (TW: 1784), held its pre-listing investor conference on December 3. The company is set to be listed on the Emerging Stock Market on December 12, becoming the third group member to enter the capital market, following BIONET and Genetics Generation Advancement. BIONET Chairman Chris Tsai stated that BIONET Therapeutics aims to establish itself as a flagship in the exosome business. According to Tsai, it has already attracted collaboration with nearly 400 industry partners, with approximately 200 of them also becoming investors. More... (in Chinese) |
| Sun Ten Pharmaceutical's NRICM101 COVID-19 treatment receives prescription drug approval in Taiwan 2 December, 2024 At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, eventually claiming millions of lives worldwide. In response, Taiwan's National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine under the Ministry of Health and Welfare developed the traditional Chinese medicine formula NRICM101 for treating COVID-19 patients. Sun Ten Pharmaceutical, which actively participated in its development, obtained formal drug approval in May of this year and launched its Sun Ten NRICM101 Concentrated Granules on the local market. NRICM101 contains a number of traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, including magnolia bark, mulberry leaf, and mint. More... (in Chinese) |
| Lin BioScience's cancer drug undergoes expedited review in the US 2 December, 2024 Lin BioScience (TW: 6696) recently announced that its new drug LBS-007, developed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has been granted Fast Track designation by the US FDA. This marks the first time a Taiwanese pharmaceutical company has received such a designation for acute leukemia. The FDA's Fast Track designation is based on clinical and preclinical data submitted in the application, and is awarded to investigational drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions with the potential to address unmet medical needs. The goal of this expedited review process is to facilitate the early availability of promising drugs to benefit patients as quickly as possible. More... (in Chinese) |
| Formosa and Medvisis agree on post-operative eye pain therapy 29 November, 2024 Formosa Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6838) in Taiwan has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Medvisis Switzerland to commercialise clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension, 0.05% (APP13007), for post-operative inflammation and pain after ocular surgery. More... |
| Foresee Pharmaceuticals' new cancer drug receives UK approval 28 November, 2024 Foresee Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6576) announced that it has been notified by its UK licensing partner Accord Healthcare that its new formulation drug CAMCEVI 42 mg prolonged-release suspension for injection, developed for treating advanced prostate cancer in adults, has received market authorization in the UK. The UK is the world's fifth-largest pharmaceutical market. More... (in Chinese) |
| Award-Winning CMUH (Taiwan) Excels at HIMSS, Leading Taiwan's Smart Healthcare Transformation Press release 27 November, 2024 In HIMSS24 APAC Seoul, Healthcare Conference & Exhibition, [Taiwan's] China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) established international presence with four notable gradings: achieving the top score in the 2023 HIMSS Global Digital Health Indicator (DHI) and receiving prestigious certifications, including Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM) Stage 7, Analytics Maturity Assessment Model (AMAM) Stage 6, and Digital Imaging Adoption Model (DIAM) Stage 6. This demonstrates the excellence of CMUH in smart healthcare practice and further improvement of quality patient care. More... |
| Shared Expertise, Shared Vision: Biotech Powerhouses Drive Innovation in This Billion-Dollar Market 27 November, 2024 As global healthcare challenges demand innovative solutions, Taiwan and Australia are seizing the moment to deepen their biotech partnership. Their collaboration, rooted in shared expertise and strategic alignment, is paving the way for breakthroughs in precision medicine, regenerative healthcare, and cutting-edge technologies. In this exclusive interview, Director General Ray Ming-Tse Lu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Melbourne offers an insightful look into this growing partnership. His perspectives shed light on the opportunities, ongoing initiatives, and aspirations shaping Taiwan-Australia biotech relations in a competitive global landscape. More... |
| AmCad BioMed launches EU and Middle East operations, Puriblood enters Brazil 26 November, 2024 AmCad BioMed (TW: 4188) is currently in discussions with the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland to introduce its AmCAD-UT thyroid scanner by the end of the year. Additionally, AmCad BioMed has signed an MOU with the UAE to officially launch its business operations in the Middle East. The company has partnerships with institutions such as the Stanford Sleep Center in the United States, the University of Bern in Switzerland, and the Faculty of Dentistry at Walailak University in Thailand for its AmCAD-UO respiratory scanner. Recently, AmCad BioMed also teamed up with Pacific University, one of the top ten dental schools in the US, to collaborate under a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. Meanwhile, Puriblood (TW: 6847) announced a collaboration with the Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy (ABHH) and major medical distributor Cromo from Brazil, signing two cooperation agreements, one for clinical trials and the other for exclusive distribution. This move cements the company's ambition to enter the largest South American market, Brazil, for blood-related products, setting a new milestone in the Taiwan-Brazil healthcare and blood research field. More... (in Chinese) |
| Andros Pharmaceuticals' topical anesthetic compound ointment approved for market launch by TFDA 26 November, 2024 Andros Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6917) announced that its self-developed topical anesthetic compound ointment LTC Cream has been approved for local market launch by the Taiwan FDA. The product is indicated for surface pain relief of the skin. This marks the first generic drug of its kind to be launched domestically, and it is also the first drug certificate approved following the TFDA's new guidelines on efficacy equivalence verification for topical preparations issued last year. More... (in Chinese) |
| TaiMed Biologics' long-acting HIV drug Phase IIa trial results expected soon 24 November, 2024 TaiMed Biologics (TW: 4147) announced that the last patient in its Phase IIa clinical trial for the combination therapy TMB-365/TMB-380, a long-acting HIV treatment administered bi-monthly, has completed their last visit (last patient last visit, or LPLV). Preliminary results from the trial are expected between the end of this year and early next year, with plans to release updates and present data at upcoming international conferences. If results meet expectations, the company aims to advance to Phase IIb trials next year and continue discussions with major pharmaceutical companies for licensing partnerships. TMB-365/TMB-380 is a novel long-acting monoclonal antibody combination developed as a comprehensive frontline maintenance therapy for HIV. The therapy targets a share of the USD10 billion annual market for long-acting first-line maintenance treatments. More... (in Chinese) |
| Trust Bio-sonics' new ultrasound contrast agents have applications in precision diagnostics and drug delivery 24 November, 2024 Many people have undergone ultrasound exams, and a common experience during abdominal ultrasound checkups is the application of a small amount of water-soluble gel to the abdominal surface to aid in sound wave transmission. However, a startup company housed in Hsinchu's Zhubei Biomedical Park, Trust Bio-sonics, is developing a new ultrasound technology recently introduced from abroad. This technology involves injecting an ultrasound contrast agent into the body, not only to help patients achieve more accurate diagnoses but also to potentially serve as a tool for drug delivery in the future. More... (in Chinese) |
| Taho Pharmaceuticals launches Phase III clinical trials in US for anti-thrombotic oral dissolving film new drug TAH3311 22 November, 2024 Taho Pharmaceuticals announced that its new anti-thrombotic drug, TAH3311 Oral Dissolving Film (ODF), has commenced Phase III clinical trials in the US, with the first batch of participants having completed drug administration. The company will use a bioequivalence (BE) approach to compare blood concentration levels between TAH3311 and the original tablet formulation. The Phase III trial aims to enroll 60 healthy volunteers, with completion expected in Q1 2025, after which Taho will proceed with applications for drug approvals in the US and Europe. The TAH3311 ODF is a reformulation of Apixaban, marketed as Eliquis and jointly developed by Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, into a thin oral dissolving film. This new dosage form, classified as a 505(b)(2) new drug, addresses challenges faced by patients with swallowing difficulties. More... (in Chinese) |
| Microbio Group's subsidiary StemCyte gains approval for cell therapy drug launch in the US 22 November, 2024 StemCyte (TW: 4178), a subsidiary of Microbio Group (TW: 4128), announced that its groundbreaking cell therapy drug, RegeneCyte, has been granted a Biologics License Application (BLA) approval by the US FDA. This milestone makes StemCyte the world's first private-sector biotech company to obtain FDA approval for a cord blood stem cell therapy drug. More... (in Chinese) |
| Foxconn works with Taiwanese hospitals on AI-powered medical innovations 21 November, 2024 Hon Hai Technology Group, in partnership with two Taiwanese hospitals, has been selected for the Taiwan government-backed "Big A+" program. This initiative provides Foxconn access to one of the world's most powerful supercomputers to advance AI innovations in medicine. More... |
| Taiwan's Health2Sync, Singapore Health Promotion Board and Abbott launch DigiCoach to tackle diabetes and obesity 21 November, 2024 Taiwan-based Health2Sync, a leading digital health company, has partnered with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) of Singapore and Abbott on 'DigiCoach', a fully automated engagement programme leveraging Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) and its data. The programme aims to empower individuals with pre-diabetes or high Body Mass Index (BMI) to take control of their health and prevent or delay the onset of diabetes through the use of technology and personalized coaching. More... |
| Steminent Biotherapeutics aims for temporary drug approval for stem cell products in Taiwan and Japan 20 November, 2024 Steminent Biotherapeutics (TW: 7729) announced that its stem cell product, Stemchymal, developed for the treatment of cerebellar atrophy, has successfully completed Phase II clinical trials in both Taiwan and Japan. Recently, it also became the first in Taiwan to receive foreign manufacturing site certification issued by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The company is now focusing on obtaining temporary drug approvals in both Taiwan and Japan. 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) ========================================= |