3/23 Taiwan BIO Weekly
2026-03-23 |
| Taiwan BIO Weekly |
| Taiwan regenerative medicine "national team" debuts in Japan 19 March, 2026 Taiwan's regenerative medicine industry has, for the first time, entered the international arena as a unified delegation, participating in the 2026 joint annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM) and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), held in Kobe, Japan from March 19 to 21. Led by the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan, six companies--UWELL Biopharma, ARCE Therapeutics, Steminent Biotherapeutics, Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC), LumiSTAR Biotechnology, and YJ Biotechnology--jointly exhibited, showcasing Taiwan's strengths in cell therapy, gene and cell therapy, iPSC-based drug screening, and automated manufacturing, while strengthening Taiwan-Japan collaboration and global connections. More... (in Chinese) |
| Medigen Vaccine Biologics' enterovirus vaccine receives regulatory approval in Vietnam 18 March, 2026 Medigen Vaccine Biologics (TW: 6547) announced that its self-developed enterovirus 71 vaccine Envacgen has obtained marketing authorization in Vietnam, marking the first enterovirus vaccine approved by Vietnamese authorities and the first Taiwanese-developed vaccine to successfully enter overseas markets. Since its launch in Taiwan in August 2023, the vaccine has captured over 97% of the domestic out-of-pocket enterovirus vaccine market, with cumulative sales exceeding 500,000 doses, making it the best-selling pediatric self-paid vaccine in Taiwan. More... (in Chinese) |
| Pharmosa Biopharm advances dual long-acting inhalation drugs 18 March, 2026 Pharmosa Biopharm (TW: 6875) continues to advance its L608 and L606 inhalation drugs, progressing through Phase II and Phase III clinical trials while pursuing expanded indications and global licensing opportunities. Its L608 therapy, targeting systemic sclerosis-related vascular complications with no approved treatments available, uses liposomal long-acting inhalation technology to enable convenient at-home dosing, with orphan drug designations in both the US and Europe and a Phase II multinational trial under US FDA review. The company is also integrating liposomal formulations with proprietary inhalation devices as part of its core strategy to drive clinical progress and future commercialization. More... (in Chinese) |
| EirGenix's breast cancer drug successfully launched in Europe 18 March, 2026 EirGenix (TW: 6589) announced that its breast cancer biosimilar Herwenda (EG12014 trastuzumab) has been approved and launched in Slovakia through its licensing partner Sandoz AG, marking its first commercial market entry in Europe. The drug had already received European Commission approval in 2023 and later secured EMA approval for a manufacturing site change, with EirGenix's Zhubei facility obtaining EU GMP certification. Following the approval of the new production site, Herwenda will be manufactured in both 150 mg and 420 mg formulations for further rollout in Europe. More... (in Chinese) |
| How Taiwan Leads Organ-On-A-Chip Tech Against Lab Animal Use 18 March, 2026 As scientists push for stronger protections for intelligent marine animals, a new generation of Taiwanese biotech startups is developing organ-on-a-chip technology that could transform drug testing -- and dramatically reduce reliance on laboratory animals. More... |
| Shiing-Jer Twu -- Chairman & Tsai-Kun Li -- President, Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), Taiwan Interview 16 March, 2026 Biotechnology in Taiwan is no longer a future aspiration, but an industrial system deliberately built for global relevance. In this conversation, the Chairman and CEO of the Development Centre for Biotechnology explain how policy, data, manufacturing discipline, and clinical capability are being aligned to create a coherent national ecosystem. The discussion moves from long-term strategy to practical execution, offering a clear view of how Taiwan positions itself in an increasingly competitive global biotech landscape. More... |
| YD Bio Limited CEO Dr. Ethan Shen Details Strategic Roadmap for Integrated Oncology Ecosystem Press release 16 March, 2026 [Taiwan-headquartered] YD Bio Limited (Nasdaq: YDES), a biotechnology company advancing DNA methylation-based cancer detection technology and ophthalmologic innovations, today highlighted the strategic roadmap shared by CEO Dr. Ethan Shen in a recent interview with PharmaBoardroom, a UK-based platform providing insights to the global healthcare and life sciences community. Moving beyond the traditional single-asset biotech model, YD Bio Ltd is building a comprehensive ecosystem that synchronizes diagnostic intelligence with advanced therapeutic execution. More... |
| Wenchi Liu -- General Manager, Moderna Taiwan Interview 16 March, 2026 Promoted to General Manager of Moderna Taiwan in 2024, Wenchi Liu brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience spanning commercial strategy and operations. Since joining Moderna in 2023, she has helped position Taiwan as a priority market within the company's Asia-Pacific region. In this interview, she discusses the rollout and expanded indications of its vaccines, collaboration with government and medical societies to raise adult vaccination rates, and Taiwan's growing role in clinical development -- highlighting Moderna's ambition to become a long-term public health partner. More... |
| Handa Pharmaceuticals' EPS reached NT$4.85 last year, marking its second-highest level on record 16 March, 2026 Handa Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6620) reported strong 2025 results driven by expanding sales of its 505(b)(2) new drugs and high-barrier generics, along with contributions from the licensed blood cancer drug Phyrago. Annual revenue reached NT$1.729 billion, up 108% year-on-year, with operating profit rising 123% and EPS hitting NT$4.85, the company's second-highest on record; the board also proposed a NT$2 cash dividend. Phyrago has been successfully launched following out-licensing, with sales and market penetration continuing to grow, and currently faces no approved 505(b)(2) competitors. Looking ahead, Handa Pharmaceuticals will continue focusing on 505(b)(2) and high-barrier products to strengthen its portfolio, drive mid- to long-term growth, and enhance its competitiveness in the specialty pharmaceutical market. More... (in Chinese) |
| Taiwan Bio Therapeutics teams up with Brigham and Women's Hospital to advance autoimmune 16 March, 2026 Taiwan Bio Therapeutics (TW: 6892) announced a three-year research collaboration between its US subsidiary Singulera and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) to co-develop gene-editing technologies aimed at enhancing the stability and functionality of regulatory T cells (Tregs), advancing gene-modified Treg therapies for autoimmune diseases, with a goal of initiating first-in-human clinical trials by 2027 to tap into a market worth over US$100 billion. The collaboration further deepens its partnership with BWH following joint research with Harvard Medical School and BWH published in Nature Immunology. Taiwan Bio Therapeutics has built a proprietary Treg platform with advantages in stability, long durability, and short manufacturing time; its first-generation Treg product TRK-001 has already advanced to Phase II clinical trials, demonstrating progress in cell expansion and culture stability. More... (in Chinese) |
| Study maps three biological routes for gastric cancer beyond H. pylori 15 March, 2026 A study in Gut shows that gastric cancer is shaped by complex interactions between environmental exposure, microbes, host, and tumor biology. The findings reveal distinct cancer routes and targets linked to prognosis and potential treatment opportunities. A multidisciplinary collaborative research team from Taiwan, including National Taiwan University, Academia Sinica, and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, has published a comprehensive multi-omics study revealing how environmental exposure, microbial ecosystems, and host molecular responses jointly shape the development of gastric cancer. More... |
| Formosa Pharmaceuticals' APP13007 post-cataract surgery inflammation and pain treatment approved for marketing in Canada 17 March, 2026 Formosa Pharmaceuticals (TW: 6838) announced that its post-cataract surgery inflammation and pain treatment drug APP13007 has received marketing approval from Health Canada, enabling commercialization in the Canadian market. The company noted that APP13007 has completed development and will be supplied to its Canadian licensing partner Apotex Inc., which holds exclusive distribution rights in the region under a 2024 agreement, with sales to be handled locally under the partnership. More... (in Chinese) |
| TCM Biotech International liver cancer platform earns US FDA breakthrough device designation 17 March, 2026 TCM Biotech International (TW: 4169) announced that its self-developed vh-DNA liquid biopsy platform CatCHimera has received US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for use in monitoring and detecting recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment, marking a major regulatory milestone and the first time a Taiwan-developed liver cancer in vitro diagnostic platform has earned this recognition. More... (in Chinese) |
| Study finds gene variant tied to faster cognitive decline in Taiwanese 17 March, 2026 A research team at Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) has found that middle-aged and older Taiwanese carrying the APOE4 gene variant experienced faster cognitive decline over time, the first such finding for a Taiwanese population. More... |
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