08/25 Taiwan BIO Weekly
2025-08-25 |
| Taiwan BIO Weekly |
| Academia Sinica leading the way in identifying factors behind recurrence of early-stage lung cancer 21 August, 2025 A research team led by Academia Sinica's Institute of Chemistry Distinguished Research Fellow Yu-Ju Chen, in collaboration with US scientists, completed the world's first large-scale proteogenomic study of lung adenocarcinoma across European, American, and Asian populations. The study confirmed that environmental carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrosamines leave common mutational signatures in non-smoking lung cancer patients worldwide. It also revealed that some early-stage lung adenocarcinoma cases share proteomic features with late-stage disease, and that disease development is shaped by both intrinsic proteomic factors and extrinsic influences, including second-hand smoke, vehicle emissions, and dietary additives. More... (in Chinese) |
| NaviFUS shows promise in clinical trials for refractory epilepsy 21 August, 2025 NaviFUS (TW: 6872) announced that its US clinical trial for its NaviFUS treatment for refractory epilepsy, led by Stanford University, completed the first participant's treatment in mid-August, with all six participants expected to be enrolled by early next year. The trial is conducted in collaboration with Stanford's renowned epilepsy center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the University of Virginia Health System, combining expertise in neurology, ultrasound technology, and epilepsy research to advance safer, innovative therapies for patients unresponsive to conventional drugs. More... (in Chinese) |
| Taiwan's Compal diversifies into smart healthcare 21 August, 2025 OEM PC manufacturer Compal's pursuit of business diversification has identified smart healthcare technology as the company's next growth engine. Compal Senior Vice President Eric Peng spoke with CNA recently about the challenges and opportunities the company faces in transitioning from OEM production to healthcare, detailing the company's latest developments in AI medical devices. Peng said the biggest challenge is the healthcare industry's emphasis upon quality and service, rather than the cost-conscious approach of the traditional OEM electronics industry. More... |
| Precision cancer therapy newcomer Heron Neutron Medical to list in September, market value already tops NT$100 billion 20 August, 2025 Focusing on the field of precision cancer therapy, Heron Neutron Medical (TW: 7799) is set to list in mid-September. In an announcement the company mentioned that it had integrated key patents and technologies from National Tsing Hua University and ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), successfully developing its patented accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT) equipment. Although profitability is not expected until 2027, with the backing of major shareholder semiconductor firm Hermes-Epitek, the company's market value has already surpassed NT$100 billion. More... (in Chinese) |
| PharmaEngine's new drug PEP08 approved for Phase I clinical trial 20 August, 2025 PharmaEngine (TW: 4162) announced that its investigational new drug PEP08 has been approved by Taiwan's TFDA to begin a Phase I human clinical trial. The drug is being developed to treat solid tumors with MTAP gene deletions, including brain cancer and pancreatic cancer. PEP08 is a second-generation PRMT5 inhibitor targeting tumors with MTAP deletions. More... (in Chinese) |
| Formosa Biomedical Technology teams up with UWELL BioPharma to support Taiwan's cell therapy industry 20 August, 2025 Formosa Biomedical Technology, a subsidiary of the Formosa Plastics Group (TW: 1301), and UWELL BioPharma announced a strategic collaboration to jointly advance the clinical and commercial production of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. Formosa Biomedical Technology stated that the partnership not only addresses UWELL BioPharma's supply needs for its Phase II clinical trials but also focuses on regulatory approval and subsequent large-scale manufacturing. The two companies will integrate strengths in clinical-grade formulation, GMP manufacturing, and quality management to establish a globally competitive cell therapy production model. UWELL BioPharma's anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy UWC19 targets primarily non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). More... (in Chinese) |
| Foxconn to develop AI vision care 19 August, 2025 Foxconn on Tuesday signed an agreement with Taiwan Nobel Medical Technology to develop AI-driven eye health solutions, combining smart imaging with wearable display research. More... |
| Syncell partners with Thermo Fisher Scientific to achieve breakthrough in subcellular high-resolution spatial proteomics 18 August, 2025 Startup biotech company Syncell announced that it has signed a strategic co-marketing collaboration agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, a world leader in scientific services. The partnership will deeply integrate Syncell's Microscoop spatial protein purification technology with Thermo Fisher's Orbitrap Astral series mass spectrometers, launching a next-generation solution for subcellular high-resolution spatial proteomics. Syncell stated that its Microscoop Mint system, the first of its kind worldwide, enables real-time purification of proteins from specific subcellular regions under microscopic guidance, achieving nanometer-level precision. Meanwhile, the Orbitrap Astral series mass spectrometers deliver exceptional sensitivity and acquisition speed, enabling deeper and more accurate analysis of protein composition and structure. More... (in Chinese) |
| Polaris Pharmaceuticals files Biologics License Application (BLA) for ADI-PEG 20, enters US FDA review stage 18 August, 2025 Polaris Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6550) announced that its Biologics License Application (BLA) for Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG 20), a biologic for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, has been accepted by the US FDA and has officially entered the substantive review stage. More... (in Chinese) |
| BioGend Therapeutics' cartilage regeneration product obtains Hong Kong medical device license 18 August, 2025 BioGend Therapeutics (TW: 6733) announced that its cartilage regeneration product Revocart has won approval to obtain a Hong Kong medical device license. The company will advance promotion and sales in Hong Kong, Macau, and China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA). Revocart continues to expand across overseas markets, having already secured approvals in multiple countries including Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, where it has entered commercial sales. In addition, the product has been adopted by 74 hospitals, with the number of patients treated showing exponential growth in recent years. BioGend is also extending applications to other indications such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, and ankle, with strong expectations for rapid growth ahead. More... (in Chinese) |
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