Focus On Asia
Bringing supercomputing power to bear on large-scale calculations for pharma R&D, Tokyo-based Xeureka explains the practical use of AI to empower innovation beyond the hype.
BlissBio is to single-handedly move BB-1701, its eribulin-containing, HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, into a global pivotal Phase II/III program for HER2-expressing, Enhertu-resistant breast cancer.
From a letter of intent with BIRAC sealed at BIO 2025 to supporting Immuneel’s CAR-T efforts and a study for point-of-care manufactured anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy, Miltenyi Biotec is moving on multiple fronts in India. The German group also expects to advance its own CAR-T candidates.
Despite recent political turmoil, outside investor and corporate interest in South Korean biopharma innovation appears robust or even increasing.
Torrent Pharma’s JB Chemicals acquisition follows the Curatio deal and Boehringer brands buyout. The second-biggest deal ever and the largest in 2025 among domestic pharma companies helps Torrent fill white spaces in areas like nephrology and gives an entry into the CDMO segment
Scrip collates data on the global manufacturing network of leading Indian drug makers, the markets serviced and production hubs for active pharmaceutical ingredients. Will ongoing geopolitical tensions and policy shifts have a bearing on some of these down the line?
GSK tells Scrip about timelines for data expected from two Phase II trials for its Bharat Biotech-partnered shigella vaccine candidate, which puts it ahead of Limmatech/Valneva. Meanwhile, a global-first malaria vaccine, also partnered with Bharat, sees an over 50% price cut
Chinese API exports to the US fell by 24% year-on-year to $255m in May, when the US and China called a truce in a previously escalating trade war.
With financial help from the founder of Uniqlo, Japan’s leading facility for induced pluripotent stem cells is aiming to automate production to slash costs and kick-start R&D in the field.
Novo Nordisk debuts Wegovy in India, gears for pole position in obesity. The Danish group’s leadership doesn’t appear too perturbed about the head start for Lilly’s Mounjaro or the imminent arrival of generic semaglutide next year.
After the failure of its lead asset in a Phase II trial earlier this year, Korea's Bridge Biotherapeutics has accepted an acquisition offer from bitcoin group Parataxis.
Multiple Chinese firms presented at this year’s ADA meeting, with a focus on weight reduction efficacy for mostly early clinical stage assets. While limited information was given on lean mass preservation, several companies are progressing drugs and combos to address this need.
A GSK-Bharat Biotech deal on a shigella vaccine candidate has cast a spotlight on the disease, which is the second leading cause of diarrheal deaths in children below five. Scrip looks at data from Pharmaprojects, WHO and other sources to highlight why a vaccine matters and what pharma is doing.
Axcelead/Lotte Biologics/Kanaph and NextCure/Simcere also unveil ADC-focused pacts, plus deals involving Avata/Oceanus, GSK/Bharat Biotech, Cullinan/Genrix and more.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission has proposed a new “growth tier” for the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, to reinstate the market’s listing standards for unprofitable firms.
Innovent presented data on multiple pipeline assets at ASCO, including promising OS results for its first-in-class anti-PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific. The Chinese firm is also continuing to build out its metabolic disease portfolio and consider its partnering strategies, its CEO tells Scrip.
A differentiated profit-sharing model to accelerate the use of AI in drug development using clinical and patient data is being proposed in South Korea, but the idea faces multiple practical challenges
Henlius is investigating the optimum dose for its PD-L1-targeting antibody-drug conjugate HLX43 to support potential first-line use, its CEO explains to Scrip.
Sun’s founder hands top job to company longtimer Kirti Ganorkar as the firm implements a “structured and forward-looking” succession plan, while Richard Ascroft will lead the Indian drugmaker’s North America business.
After in-licensing a cardiovascular candidate last year, AstraZeneca has signed a strategic drug discovery alliance, which could generate billions of dollars in payments to the Chinese firm.