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4 BIO MAILBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comGo Digital:To request subscriptionemail: [email protected] Representative:Ms Christine Wu Image Media Services Company2F-2, No. 35, Sec. 2, Flushing South Road, Taipei 10665, TaiwanTel: +886-2-87734199Fax:+886-2-87734200Mobile: 886-937890533E-mail: [email protected]: www.imagemediatw.comGreater China & Hong Kong SARLisa SunHead of Global Communications &Partnerships, VCBeatZone A, Jinxin Technology Building,Yubei District, Chongqing, China, 401100.Mobile: +8618515352905E-mail: [email protected] KulkarniMarketing and CommunicationExecutive“NITON”, No. 11/3, Block “C”, Second Floor,Palace Road, Bangalore, Karnataka- 560052Tel: +91-80-41131912/13Mobile: [email protected]: istockphotoVol 21; Issue 1; January 2026Publisher & Managing Editor:Ravindra BoratkarCEO:Manasee [email protected]:Chief Editor: Dr Milind [email protected] - Content: Vijay ThombreEditor: Narayan [email protected] Editor: Dr Manbeena [email protected] Editor: Nitesh [email protected]. Manager Content Creationand Coordination- APAC Region:Hithaishi C. [email protected] Manager - Integrated Marketing & Media AccelerationAnkit [email protected] Asst. General ManagerHR and Admin: Asmita [email protected] & Design:MM Activ Sci-Tech CommunicationsExecutive Production:Anil WalunjCover Design:Dominix Strategic Design Pvt. Ltd.Business Enquiry:Ankit Kankar [email protected] ServicesPrint Edition: Saradha Mani [email protected] Edition: Ankit [email protected] Letter : Sudam [email protected] Executive: Sudam WalekarBio Spectrum Jobs: Poonam Bhosale [email protected] MM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd.SingaporeMM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd.Saradha ManiGeneral Manager#08-08, High Street Centre, 1 North Bridge Road, Singapore - 179094Tel: +65-63369142 / Fax:+65-63369145Mobile: [email protected] Pacific & South East AsiaAnkit KankarGeneral Manager - IntegratedMarketing & Media Acceleration1st Floor, CIDCO Convention Center,Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra-400703.Mobile: [email protected] BureauMM Activ Sci-Tech CommunicationsMobile: +65 [email protected] BureauMM Activ Sci-Tech CommunicationsMobile: +65 [email protected] and published by Ravindra Boratkar on behalf of MM ACTIV Singapore Pte Ltd. Printed at Times Printers Private Limited16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340Tel : +65-63112888Reprinted in India for private CirculationChief Editor: Dr Milind KokjeMDDI (P) 029/06/2025Copyright: MMActiv Singapore Pte Ltd. Acknowledgement/ FeedbackQuanterix loved Dr Michael Miller’s piece in the December issue of BioSpectrum Asia. We wish to continue collaborating with you in the new year! -Julianna, USWe saw the great piece- ‘Is China Poised to Overtake the US as Biotech’s Global Powerhouse?’. Thank you again for allowing Clarivate to share the report and perspective. -Cat, UKThanks, BioSpectrum Asia for including inputs from Frost & Sullivan in your cover story.-Manikam, SingaporeWe appreciate you including comments from Eversana in your cover story of the December edition.-Matt, USThank you so much BioSpectrum Asia for the interview with AusBiotech, Great article.-Rose, Australiawishes its Readers, Contributors, Advertisers and Associates2026
Letter from PublisherRavindra BoratkarPublisher &Managing Editor,MD, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt. Ltd.5BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comDear Readers,As we step into 2026, all of us at BioSpectrum Asia would like to take a moment to thank our readers, sponsors, suppliers, and partners across the Asia-Pacific life sciences community. While the region’s growing role in global healthcare is undeniable, 2025 reminded us that real progress is powered by people—by their ideas, partnerships, and collective purpose.Beyond its scientific promise, mRNA has emerged as a strategic opportunity shaped by policy, public investment, and regional collaboration. While mRNA gained prominence during COVID-19, recent US funding cuts have slowed momentum there. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific is accelerating. Countries such as Australia, Singapore, and South Korea are investing heavily, with APAC now accounting for around 30 per cent of global mRNA activity. With applications expanding into cancer, TB, UTIs, and influenza, the APAC mRNA market is positioning the region for long-term leadership. Our lead story brings to you how countries across the region are racing to secure a larger share through advances in science, manufacturing, and policy.Another area where this regional momentum is clearly visible is ophthalmology. Asia-Pacific is fast becoming a centre of innovation in eye care, driven by the very real and growing challenge of vision loss. With more than 60 per cent of the world’s visually impaired population living in the region, ageing societies and the rapid rise of diabetes are creating urgent needs across retinal disease, glaucoma, dry eye, and myopia. Encouragingly, companies are responding with renewed urgency—accelerating research, investing in new technologies, and forming cross-border partnerships. In this issue, we explore how these efforts are shaping Asia-Pacific’s growing influence in eye-care development and access.The year 2025 also proved to be a defining one for Japan’s biopharma landscape. A fresh wave of government initiatives has placed startups firmly at the heart of the country’s innovation strategy, with expanded venture funding, stronger development support, and new tax incentives for founders, employees, and investors. Programmes such as J-RISE, signal a clear intent: to move promising science out of the lab and into patients’ lives. Supported by rising private investment, our team observe that these changes reflect Japan’s renewed ambition on the global biopharma stage.Looking ahead, several connected trends will shape Asia-Pacific’s life sciences journey through 2026. Care is moving closer to patients through ageing-in-place and healthcare-at-home models, while Industry 4.0 adoption is strengthening manufacturing resilience. The region is also emerging as a leader in advanced therapies, including cell and gene therapies, mRNA platforms, antibody–drug conjugates, and next-generation biologics. Supported by rich clinical and genomic data, an industry expert says these forces together are expected to drive a $300–350 billion market by 2026 and reinforce Asia-Pacific’s global influence. At the heart of BioSpectrum Asia’s mission is the belief that progress in life sciences must serve society. This philosophy underpins the BioSpectrum India Excellence Awards, which honour pioneers, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders strengthening India’s scientific ecosystem and improving healthcare outcomes in India and globally. We were honoured to have the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Government of India, Dr Jitendra Singh, join us at the awards ceremony and recognise outstanding contributions during 2023–24 and 2024–25, underscoring the growing alignment between government, industry, and academia.We wish all our stakeholders a healthy, fulfilling, and successful year ahead. I am sure you will find this edition a great read.Thanks & Regards,Ravindra BoratkarPublisher & Managing Editor
The Future of mRNA Is Being Built in APACBeyond scientific advancement, mRNA represents a strategic opportunity shaped by policy stability, public investment and regional collaboration. Across APAC, governments are increasingly recognising that supportive regulatory frameworks and long-term funding can serve as powerful competitive advantages, attracting global capital and talent. While political dynamics in the United States have slowed momentum, experts emphasise that the science underpinning mRNA technology remains sound. To fully realise its potential, the region will need greater coordination across borders, including regulatory harmonisation and joint development pathways, to build a resilient mRNA ecosystem capable of addressing shared health challenges and driving long-term innovation.6 BIO CONTENTBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comCOVER 20mRNA landscape in JapanReshaping Asia’s Healthcare with mRNA Innovation22Sayoko Taga,24Manager,Public Relations Team,Public & External AffairsDept, Meji PharmaPatrick Bergstedt,Senior Vice Presidentand General Manager– Asia and EmergingMarkets, Moderna
ScanQR codeto accessBioSpectrumAsiaDigizineBIO CONTENT 7BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comJapan31 Japan Pushes Startups toPower the Next Biotech CycleTrendsMomentum in Motion: What Will Shape APAC’s Life Sciences Landscape in 2026?Khushbu Jain,Associate Director – Health & Life ScienceGrowth Advisory, Frost & Sullivan37Cancer CareHow Precision MedicineIs Reshaping Cancer CareLim Yee Pin,General Manager, Malaysia and Indonesia,Johnson & Johnson39Speaking With“Industry needs to evolve and invest in ADC payloads with more differentiated mechanisms of action”Dr Allan Jordan,Vice President, Oncology Drug Discovery,Sygnature Discovery, UK35“There are talent shortages in specialised modalities such as ADCs, peptides, and computational biology”Katie Edgar,Chief Business Officer,KBI Biopharma, USA33Eye Care28 Seeing Opportunityin OphthalmologyREGULARSBioMail ...................................................................04Letter from Publisher ..........................................05BioEdit ....................................................................08Policy and Regulatory News ..............................09Finance News .......................................................11Company News ....................................................13Start-Up News ......................................................15World News ...........................................................17WHO News.............................................................19People News..........................................................44R&D News ..............................................................46Supplier News .......................................................48Lets Talk Health ....................................................50Biospectrum India Excellence Awards 202540Indian S&T Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Honours Life SciencesStalwarts With BioSpectrumIndia Excellence Awards 2025
8 BIO EDITBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comDr Milind KokjeChief [email protected]’S NEW GLOBAL PLAYIN PHARMA INNOVATIONThe beginning of the new year has brought two notable developments from Asia’s pharmaceutical landscape—one involving a government regulator and the other a private pharmaceutical major. While distinct in nature, both moves share a common strategic objective: stepping beyond regional boundaries to accelerate innovation and improve patient access to breakthrough therapies. One looks westward to Europe, the other to the United States.In a significant regulatory development, Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has entered into a partnership with the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to establish a new regulatory innovation corridor aimed at fast-tracking health technologies. Built on a long-standing UK–Singapore collaboration in science and technology, this is a first-of-its-kind arrangement that allows pharmaceutical and medtech companies to engage with both regulators through a coordinated fast-track pathway. An important feature of this partnership is its focus on artificial intelligence in healthcare. Both agencies will serve as the first two pioneer members of the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network. The UK has already established a National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, creating a strong foundation for joint regulatory learning. Under this new model, drug developers will be able to seek early, joint scientific and regulatory advice from both agencies—enabling better clinical trial design, alignment of evidence requirements, and avoidance of duplication and delays.The coordinated pathway is expected to accelerate innovation timelines and enable earlier patient access to new therapies. Previously, companies had to approach each regulator separately, often resulting in prolonged back-and-forth and overlapping requirements. Simultaneous engagement will help developers plan more efficiently, potentially cutting months from development timelines—particularly for advanced and emerging technologies. At the same time, closer collaboration between the two regulators will allow for shared learning and harmonisation of scientific and regulatory approaches without compromising safety or quality standards.More broadly, the arrangement is expected to provide sooner access to cutting-edge treatments in priority areas to lower regulatory and administrative costs, incentivise joint clinical trials and research programmes across both countries, and serve as a template for similar multi-country regulatory partnerships. It represents a strategic step towards more agile global regulatory cooperation, helping scientific innovation move faster from the laboratory to patients. In another important development, Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical has established a new partnering office in South San Francisco, operating as a branch of its wholly owned subsidiary, Chugai Pharma USA Inc. Beginning operations this month, the office is intended to strengthen Chugai’s engagement with US-based academia and startups while advancing its strategic external partnership activities. It will also work closely with Chugai’s partnering teams across regions to accelerate global open innovation.This move should not be viewed as a routine overseas expansion. Chugai has publicly articulated its ambition to become a top-tier global innovator by 2030, with open innovation positioned as a central pillar of that strategy. The choice of South San Francisco—often described as the birthplace of modern biotechnology—is therefore highly strategic. Industry observers see this as part of a broader trend among large biopharma companies to strategically redistribute their R&D and partnering activities across global innovation hotspots. Over the next 12 months, the progress and outcomes of both these outward-looking initiatives as expected to be closely watched by the sector. Their success could trigger competitive ripple effects, encouraging other Asian regulators and pharmaceutical companies to adopt similar global engagement strategies in pursuit of faster innovation and earlier patient access.
As part of this first-of-its-kind partnership between the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), companies will have a coordinated fast track pathway to engage both regulators at the same time. Under the new corridor, developers will be able to seek joint advice from both regulators early, helping them plan ahead and design better clinical trials, avoid duplication and reduce delays. The aim is to speed up patient access to breakthrough therapies in highimpact areas such as cancer, dementia, obesity, rare diseases and advanced diagnostics, without compromising on safety, while strengthening both countries’ position as global hubs for life science investment. Flagship Pioneering, a scientific innovation engine for transformative platforms and products, will be the first company to access the new Regulatory Innovation Corridor. Its early-stage programmes across an ecosystem of more than 40 companies, including Flagship-founded Moderna, span a broad range of new therapeutic modalities that could inform regulatory paradigm shifts on the horizon.Pharmacopoeia Commission of India inks 3 MoUs with NagalandThe Pharmacopoeia Commission of India (IPC), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Nagaland Medical Council, Nagaland State Drug Control Administration (NSDCA), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland and State Pharmacy Council, Government of Nagaland, a northeastern state of India. The event aimed to strengthen IPC's collaborative efforts in promoting public health by facilitating the use of Indian Pharmacopoeia reference substances and impurity standards in drug testing laboratories under NSDCA, safe and rational use of drugs, enhancing surveillance activities in the pharma and ingredients sector, and advancing patient safety initiatives in the state of Nagaland. This MoU is expected to enhance professional engagement, establish adverse drug reaction (ADR) Monitoring Centres/Medical Devices Monitoring Centres/Monitoring Centres. The Australia government is investing $9.6 million into research to better support Australians who rely heavily on health services, helping to meet growing demand on the health system. High use of health services in Australia is linked to older age and is often driven by other factors such as complex health needs and delays in accessing timely, appropriate care. Administered under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research (TCR): Addressing the Needs of People with High Healthcare Service Utilisation grant opportunity, four projects will examine current healthcare delivery approaches, explore potential improvements and develop new models and ways to better implement them. According to the government, there is lack of research on the experience, needs and healthcare journey of people with high healthcare service utilisation and the key factors that lead to frequent use of health services. This research will help us gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing people with different types of high healthcare service utilisation when managing their health, leading to improved patient outcomes.Australia invests $9.6 Mto strengthen healthcareUK and Singapore launch new regulatoryinnovation corridor to fast-track health technologiesREGULATORY NEWS 9BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Korea steps up pandemic responsewith $18.9 M investment in CEPI10 REGULATORY NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comThe Republic of Korea has announced new $18.9 million support to bolster national and global efforts to protect against the next deadly pandemic and boost international health security. The Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the important funding as its annual contribution to investments in Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), an international organisation committed to advancing the development of vaccines and other tools to protect against emerging viral threats, like MERS, Lassa fever, Chikungunya and a new ‘Disease X’, in as little as 100 days so they are accessible to all in need. The funds will support CEPI’s pandemic preparedness and response efforts through to the end of 2026, before the public-private partnership launches its new strategy.New Zealand maintains comprehensive respiratory surveillance systemKorea, China, and Japan discuss cooperation on health policiesThe Ministry of Health, in consultation with partners the National Public Health Service and PHF Science, has decided to not renew its contract for FluTracking New Zealand because New Zealand has other surveillance tools for respiratory illnesses that provide similar information. FluTracking is an online, surveybased surveillance tool that uses voluntary participants to self-report symptoms (like fever, cough and sore throat) along with testing and vaccination status. Other respiratory surveillance tools, such as Healthline data, provide a similar level of information to FluTracking, including about people with flulike symptoms who have not received medical care. These tools will continue to inform any public health response to influenza. The New Zealand Respiratory Illness Dashboard, maintained by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science), will continue to be updated with respiratory illness information, including data from GP clinics, hospitals and calls to Healthline. FluTracking New Zealand is part of an initiative originally launched in Australia in 2006 and extended to New Zealand in 2018.The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea government recently hosted the 18th Tripartite Health Ministers’ Meeting as an opportunity for the three East Asian partner countries to identify shared health challenges and strengthen comprehensive cooperation. The delegation shared national policy experience and discussed cooperation across three priority areas: universal health coverage (UHC) enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, healthy and active ageing, and mental health. They reaffirmed that AI and digital technologies serve as transformative enablers for achieving UHC and agreed to work together to expand equity and access to essential health services. The three countries will prioritise collaboration to strengthen digital health systems in rural and underserved areas and share approaches to applying digital technologies in ways that align with each country’s infrastructure and regulatory context. The three countries also agreed to support the development of integrated care systems that provide health and long-term care services throughout the life course as a way of addressing the common structural challenge of population ageing.
FINANCE NEWS 11BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comImmutep inks oncologydeal worth $349.5 M withDr. Reddy’s LaboratoriesAustralia-based Immutep Limited and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, based in India, have announced that their respective wholly-owned subsidiaries, Immutep SAS and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories SA, have entered into a strategic collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement for the development and commercialisation of Eftilagimod Alfa (efti) in all countries outside North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China. Efti is Immutep’s first-in-class novel immunotherapy that directly activates the immune system to fight cancer, which is under evaluation in TACTI-004 (KEYNOTE-F91), a registrational Phase III trial for the firstline therapy of advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Efti is also being investigated in other indications including head & neck cancer, breast cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. As per the agreement, Immutep will receive from Dr. Reddy’s an upfront payment of $20 million (~AUD 30.2 million). It is also eligible to receive potential regulatory development and commercial milestone payments of up to $349.5 million (~AUD 528.4 million), plus double-digit royalties on commercial sales in these markets.Glenmark bags multi-regional rights of Hansoh Pharma’s oncology drug for $1 BGHIT invests $460,000 for developmentof Mpox detection test prototypeJapan-based Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has announced an investment of approximately JPY 70 million ($460,000) for the development of a prototype detection test for mpox (monkeypox). Although the emergency declaration was lifted in September 2025, mpox cases continue to be reported in neighbouring countries, and the risk of severe complications and re-emergence remains a concern. Against this background, the GHIT Fund will invest approximately 70 million yen ($460,000) in the development of a prototype mpox detection test. The project involves NIPRO CORPORATION, a global comprehensive healthcare company in the medical devices and pharmaceuticals; TBA Co., Ltd, a venture company originating from Tohoku University; the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS); the international non-profit organization PATH (USA); and the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB). Glenmark Specialty S.A. (GSSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, has entered into an exclusive license, collaboration and distribution agreement with Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., for Aumolertinib, a third-generation Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Under the terms of the agreement, Glenmark receives exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Aumolertinib across its licensed territories: Middle East and Africa, Southeast & South Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia/CIS and a few selected Caribbean countries covered by the agreement. China's Hansoh Pharma will receive an upfront payment of low doubledigit million USD, followed by potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments possibly cumulating to over $1 billion, in addition to tiered royalties on net sales in the licensed territories.
12 FINANCE NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comSAI Parenterals acquires Noumed Pharma for Rs 125 CrSAI Parenterals Limited (SPL), an India-based pharmaceutical formulation company, has announced the acquisition of a 74.6 per cent controlling stake in Noumed Pharmaceuticals, an Adelaidebased pharmaceutical company, for an aggregate sum of Rs 125 crore. SAI Parenterals has filed its IPO DRHP with SEBI on September 30, 2025 - the offer, with a face value of Rs 5 per equity share, comprises a fresh issue of up to Rs 285 crore and an offer for sale of up to 3,500,000 equity shares by existing shareholders. Noumed Pharmaceuticals, a company with AUD 60 million in revenue, is a supplier of private label over the counter (OTC) products to pharmacy chains across Australia and New Zealand. The company is currently establishing a state-of-theart manufacturing facility in Adelaide with an investment of AUD 53 million. The facility is expected to begin commercial operations by the fourth quarter of CY 2026. With a strong portfolio of over 451 product dossiers, Noumed offers substantial breadth across therapeutic categories.ADEL, Inc., a South Korea-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Sanofi, a multinational healthcare company, for the development and commercialisation of ADEL-Y01, a potential first-in-class antibody therapy for Alzheimer's disease, and related backup compounds. The total potential value of the agreement is up to $1.04 billion. ADEL will receive a non-refundable upfront payment of $80 million and is eligible to receive additional payments contingent upon the achievement of specified development and commercial milestones. Additionally, ADEL is entitled to receive tiered royalties on net sales ranging up to double-digit percentages. ADEL-Y01 is a humanised monoclonal antibody that selectively targets tau protein acetylated at Lysine-280 (acK280).Precious Medical Group invests RM500 M for advanced cancer care infrastructure in MalaysiaADEL signs$1.04 B deal with Sanofi for novelAlzheimer's therapySingapore-based healthcare provider Precious Medical Group has announced the launch of the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Centre and Hospital, a landmark RM500 million development featuring state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities. The project aims to elevate oncology capacity in and beyond Johor while strengthening collaboration across Malaysia's public and private healthcare systems. The first phase of the project, the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Centre, was inaugurated on December 5, 2025. It features advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including a PET-CT and radiotherapy centre. When fully completed, it will also house a nuclear medicine facility equipped with Malaysia's first cyclotron outside the Klang Valley, enabling on-site production of medical radioisotopes for cancer imaging and therapy. This development will enhance early detection, improve treatment availability, and reduce dependence on distant radioisotope supply chains. Construction and operations are projected to generate around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing to workforce development and supporting the broader goals of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ) to drive high-value healthcare services.
Zydus Lifesciences partners with Myriad Genetics to launch cancer-risk assessment diagnostic tests in IndiaIndia-based Zydus Lifesciences has signed an agreement with US-based Myriad Genetics, a leader in molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine. Pursuant to the agreement, Zydus will be introducing MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test, MyChoice HRD Plus, Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Test and Prolaris Prostate Cancer Prognostic Test to patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems across India. With the increasing incidence of cancers globally, the MyRisk Test can help people safeguard their health and take precautionary steps and lifestyle changes that can minimise the risk of cancer. In patients suffering from prostate and ovarian cancers, the Prolaris Test and MyChoice HRD Plus Test, respectively, can help patients understand the disease progression and inform the right treatment path. As part of this agreement, Zydus will exclusively market, create awareness, access and engage clinicians on three of Myriad Genetics’ broadly validated diagnostic platforms, MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test, MyChoice HRD Plus Test for ovarian cancer, and Prolaris a gene expression Prostate Cancer Prognostic Test.Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company headquartered in Hong Kong, and Taiwan's TaiGen Biotechnology, a listed discoverybased and market-focused pharmaceutical company, as well as TaiGen Biopharmaceuticals, its wholly-owned Beijing subsidiary, have announced an exclusive pipeline out-licensing collaboration. Under the terms of the agreement, TaiGen was granted the exclusive rights for further development, commercialisation and sublicensing in the Greater China area, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, of ISM4808 the PHD inhibitor and its related forms and structures. In return, Insilico is eligible for payments including one-time upfront, development and sales-based milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on net sales, with a total size of double-dight million dollars. In preclinical studies, ISM4808 showed compelling potency across in vitro and in vivo assays, with lower effective doses in CKD rat models; promising oral drug-like properties featuring favourable in vitro ADME and promising pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles across animal models; and a safety profile characterised by higher maximum tolerated doses and broad safety margins. The programme received IND clearance from the Centre for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in China in 2023.COMPANY NEWS 13BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comAustralia’s onshore vaccine manufacturing capabilities took a leap forward as Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, opened CSL Seqirus’ state-of-the-art cell-based influenza vaccine and antivenom manufacturing facility in Melbourne. The Australian-owned and operated facility uses innovative technology to manufacture seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines for Australia and the world. It is the only cellbased influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere and makes Australia one of only three countries globally with the end-to-end capability to make advanced cell-based influenza vaccines. It is also the only manufacturing site in the world capable of producing Australia’s eleven antivenoms for venomous creatures and the human Q-Fever vaccine. The new facility will replace the existing CSL Seqirus egg-based vaccine manufacturing facility in Parkville, Melbourne, marking the end of an era spanning 80 years in manufacturing innovation. CSL opens cell-based influenza vaccine and antivenom manufacturing facility in MelbourneInsilico Medicine, TaiGen collaborate for AIdriven PHD inhibitor for CKD-related anaemia
Lunit partners with Daiichi Sankyo to advance AIdriven oncology research14 COMPANY NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comRhinocare Korea accelerates global expansion with Singapore joint ventureRhinocare Korea, a medtech innovator specialising in drug-free respiratory care, has announced plans to establish a joint venture (JV) in Singapore as part of its strategy to expand across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. The move follows strong global interest in its patented JetStream warm-steam nasal therapy device—an athome solution that alleviates nasal congestion using only water, without medication or invasive procedures. Rhinocare Korea's technology is based on therapeutic research originating from the Weizmann Institute of Science and enhanced through proprietary JetStream engineering. The device delivers 43°C warm steam at a controlled pressure of 80 mmH₂O deep into the nasal cavity, providing relief for symptoms related to rhinitis, sinusitis, influenza, and allergies. Its high-pressure system enables deeper and more targeted delivery compared with conventional steamers. Supported by Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN), Rhinocare Korea is in the final stages of establishing the JV with its Israeli technology partner.PT Fapon Bioindustries Indonesia and the Indonesian state-owned pharmaceutical holding company PT Bio Farma (Persero) have signed a cooperation agreement. The partnership is centered on the local manufacturing, and commercialisation of IVD products in Indonesia. PT Fapon is Fapon Group's first overseas manufacturing base, dedicated to supplying the Indonesian and regional markets with diagnostic products and solutions that meet international standards. Bio Farma, with a legacy spanning over 130 years, is a leading national life science enterprise in Indonesia, boasting extensive expertise in the research, development, production, and distribution of vaccines, biologics, and pharmaceutical products. This partnership marks a significant milestone in PT Fapon's strategy to deepen its local roots and empower the autonomous development of Indonesia's medical industry.Fapon, Bio Farma partner to advance IVD localisation and innovation in IndonesiaSouth Korea-based Lunit, a leading provider of AI for cancer diagnostics and precision oncology, has announced a collaboration with Japanese pharma firm Daiichi Sankyo that aims to accelerate biomarker discovery and optimise translational research by integrating multiple AI-powered Lunit SCOPE digital pathology products across two oncology pipeline programmes. Daiichi Sankyo will apply various Lunit SCOPE solutions, including SCOPE uIHC for quantitative IHC analysis and SCOPE IO for immune phenotyping and spatial analysis, to explore novel biomarkers and to potentially enrich clinical trials or to potentially support precision patient stratification for select oncology pipeline programmes. The work will include exploratory research projects and analyses across two oncology assets across multiple types of cancer, with the potential to inform future trial designs, biomarker strategies and clinical development plans.
Ferronova raises $6 Mto advance imageguided cancer surgeryAustralian startup Ferronova has raised a further $6 million to progress the commercialisation of a novel nanoparticle image-guided surgery solution seeking to improve identification of cancer cells and reduce the risk of undetected recurrence following surgery. Ferronova's superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles bind to cells found in lymph nodes which aim to enable identification of tissue that could contain cancerous cells. The technology aims to support more informed surgical decisionmaking and address the problem that cancer cells are often not identified by current imaging and rogue cells may remain undetected in surgery. Ferronova's latest $6 million round was led by existing investors Uniseed/UniSuper, South Australian Venture Capital Fund, Artesian Venture Partners and Renew Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Singaporebased Ultragreen.ai). The latest capital raising brings the total generated in Series A rounds to $17.5 million. The startup is currently undertaking a 60 patient, two-year trial of the technology in stomach and oesophageal cancers – with 54 patients enrolled to date and completion expected in early 2026.Japan-based PRISM BioLab and US-based startup Talus Bioscience, Inc. have entered into a collaboration to discover novel inhibitors of transcription factor (TF) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) targets. By combining Talus Bio’s assay technologies for screening TF and PPI inhibitors in native cellular environment with PRISM’s chemistry designed to target protein-protein interactions, companies are in a unique position to discover and develop drugs against these challenging targets. Under the agreement, the companies will deploy PRISM’s proprietary smallmolecule libraries in Talus Bio’s AI-guided regulome profiling screens to identify and optimise novel compounds against high-value TF and PPI targets. The collaboration aims to generate first-in-class chemical matter with direct functional effects on TF and PPI activity in live human cells. Talus Bio and PRISM will share the costs of discovery research and development and any profits generated from out-licensing and commercialisation of discovered drug products.PRISM BioLab partners with Talus Bioscience for AI-based drug discoverySTART-UP NEWS 15BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comD3 Bio, a global clinical-stage biotechnology company from China focused on the discovery and development of innovative oncology therapeutics, has announced the completion of a $108 million Series B financing round. The funding round was backed by a distinguished group of investors, including IDG Capital and SongQing Capital. Existing investors — WuXi AppTec's Corporate Venture Fund, Temasek, HSG, MPCi, and Medicxi — also contributed to the round. The robust involvement from both new and current investors highlights widespread confidence in D3 Bio's innovative pipeline and its global development strategy. Proceeds from this financing will primarily support the planned global Phase III pivotal programme for the startup's lead asset, elisrasib (D3S-001). These pivotal trials will assess elisrasib as both a monotherapy and in combination therapies for KRAS G12C-mutant cancers across key countries and regions, including the United States, China, and the European Union, to facilitate global regulatory submissions. Furthermore, the funding will facilitate ongoing development of China-based startup D3 Bio's comprehensive pipeline of targeted and immuno-oncology programmes, which are centred on innovative mechanisms with first-in-class or best-in-class potential. D3 Bio secures $108 M to advance global clinical programmes
UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC), India’s premier deep tech startup hub anchored at IIT-Madras, to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and research-driven solutions in the healthcare and life sciences sector. The MoU aims to create a collaborative framework between UST and IITMIC to drive innovation through joint programmes, engagement with incubates, and industry partnerships, especially in high-impact domains. This agreement establishes a scalable, structured yet flexible partnership between UST and IITMIC to identify high-potential startups, provide them with mentorship and targeted funding, and systematically expand pilots and proof-of-concepts, form strategic collaborations, and create go-to-market opportunities.UST and IIT-M sign MoU to accelerate deep tech startups in healthcare and life sciencesSingapore-based health-tech startup Respiree has received approval from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for its 1Bio AI-Acute toolbox as a Class B software-as-a-medical device (SaMD). The solution is designed to support healthcare professionals in identifying acute inpatient deterioration using AI-enabled machine learning models. Compared to the current standard of care, 1Bio AI-Acute delivers significantly higher precision in acute deterioration notifications, resulting in fewer false alerts and more efficient clinical support. The 1Bio AI-Acute system uses only bedside-recorded vital signs—pulse rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and systolic blood pressure—to generate a probability score that assists clinicians in determining whether additional monitoring may be required. The 1Bio AI-Acute is readily available to healthcare professionals through Respiree's 1Bio platform, which recently received regulatory clearance together with the RS001 wearable device. With this milestone, the 1Bio AI-Acute toolbox, the 1Bio platform, and the RS001 wearable are all now approved by HSA.Respiree gets HSA's approval for 1Bio AI-Acute toolbox to support healthcareGalux, a South Korean biotech startup pioneering AI-driven protein therapeutics discovery, has signed a research agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to jointly explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in precision protein design for therapeutic development. The goal is to evaluate how AI can be leveraged to design purposespecific protein molecules that meet precise scientific and translational needs, where conventional approaches face limitations. Earlier this year, Galux reached a major milestone in de novo antibody design, successfully discovering novel antibodies with high binding affinity, target specificity and selectivity, structural precision, and stability across multiple therapeutic targets. These achievements firmly position GaluxDesign as one of the most advanced and experimentally validated AI platforms for protein design. Building on this foundation, the initial phase of the collaboration will focus on validating the feasibility and potential of AI-driven protein design across selected cases, setting the stage for broader research initiatives between the two companies.Galux joins hands with Boehringer Ingelheim to advance AI-driven protein design16 START-UP NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com
WORLD NEWS 17BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comCambodia introduces lifesaving rotavirus vaccine nationwideThe Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia has announced the nationwide introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into the National Immunisation Schedule, marking a significant milestone in protecting infants and young children from one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and child mortality. This milestone addresses a critical global health challenge. Diarrhoeal disease is the third leading cause of death in children aged 1–59 months worldwide, claiming over 443,000 children under five annually, and rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrheal disease. Cambodia joins 52 other low- and middle-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to introduce the rotavirus vaccine. The vaccines and injection supplies used in Cambodia’s national programme are WHO-prequalified and procured through the UNICEF system, which ensures the highest quality and safety.Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), and the World Bank Group are deepening their collaboration to strengthen financing for immunisation and primary healthcare systems, while also supporting regional vaccine manufacturing in Africa. Working together, the two organisations plan to mobilise at least $2 billion over the next five years in joint financing, aligned with country priorities. To support low- and lower middle-income countries as they transition from external support to long term sustainable financing, Gavi and the World Bank Group will leverage new financing tools such as blended finance, buydowns, and guarantees, and work together in areas like public financial management. Gavi and the World Bank Group will also work together to advance vaccine manufacturing in Africa, aligned with the African Union’s goal of producing 60 per cent of the continent’s vaccines domestically by 2040, and with Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator. Collaboration with partners will be central to this effort.Gavi and World Bank to boost health system resilience and regional vaccine manufacturingThe Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched the new HEARTS Quality Framework, a practical guide published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, which countries can immediately use to enhance hypertension and cardiovascular risk management, prevent heart attacks and strokes, and deliver better care through primary health care within their communities. In the Americas, heart disease and strokes claim more than 2.2 million lives each year, and many of the victims are people in their most productive years. High blood pressure—known as the \"silent killer\"—is the leading risk factor, affecting nearly four in ten adults across the region. Despite the availability of affordable and effective treatments, only one in three people with hypertension have their condition under control. The new HEARTS Quality Framework translates real-world experiences into a tested blueprint for overcoming barriers that keep millions from getting the care they need. These include inaccurate blood pressure measurements due to outdated equipment, limited availability of essential medicines, suboptimal treatments, and unnecessary monthly visits to renew prescriptions.PAHO launches roadmap to improve blood pressure control
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the TechnologyEnabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) for Digital Health Devices Pilot, a voluntary pilot designed to promote access to certain digital health devices while safeguarding patient safety. Developed by the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the pilot will evaluate a new, risk-based enforcement approach that supports digital health devices intended for use to improve patient outcomes in cardio-kidneymetabolic, musculoskeletal, and behavioural health conditions. In collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (CMMI) Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) model, under the TEMPO pilot participating manufacturers of certain digital health devices will offer devices for an intended use to provide care covered by the CMMI ACCESS model while collecting, monitoring, and reporting realworld performance data. University of Oxford launches world’s first Phase II Nipah virus vaccine trialThe UK government has put an offer to the British Medical Association (BMA) that would put in place emergency legislation for UK and Republic of Ireland medical graduates and doctors who have worked in the National Health Service (NHS) for a significant period of time to be prioritised for specialty training and tackling bottlenecks through an overhaul of recruitment for medical training. Should the BMA accept this offer, the government will accelerate plans to prioritise these medics, addressing the current system that has led to soaring competition ratios - with current applicants set to benefit from the 2026 intake. There are currently record numbers of doctors working in the NHS, but training bottlenecks are at all-time high, with UK graduates facing record competition for places due to rising numbers of international applications, and in many cases being left without a job to go into.UK to prioritise medical graduates for training placesUS FDA launches novel Digital Health Pilot to expand access to chronic disease technologiesThe University of Oxford has launched the world’s first Phase II clinical trial of a Nipah virus vaccine candidate. The trial, conducted in Bangladesh in partnership with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), & funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), will assess the safety & immune response of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine in a region where the virus causes recurrent outbreaks. The trial started in December 2025, & will enrol 306 healthy participants aged 18 to 55. Developed by scientists at the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, the first-inhuman trials of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine started in January 2024 in Oxford, led by the Oxford Vaccine Group. Fifty-one people aged 18 to 55 have safely completed one year of follow-up in the Oxford trial with results expected in the coming months. In recognition of the urgent need for a Nipah virus vaccine and the compelling early data, the European Medicines Agency granted the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation in June 2025. This designation aims to expedite the development & regulatory review processes for medicines that address unmet medical needs.18 WORLD NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com
WHO NEWS 19BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comThe World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new €8 million, four-year contribution from the Government of Belgium to accelerate global equitable access to essential health products and technologies. The funding will strengthen geographically diversified and sustainable manufacturing capacity, an urgent global priority underscored by lessons from the COVID-19 crisis. The contribution will bolster WHO’s efforts to ensure that low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can both develop and produce the health products they need, including vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other critical technologies. It builds on a long-standing collaboration between Belgium and WHO to advance access to health products worldwide. Belgium’s contribution will enable WHO to accelerate implementation of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme (Phase 2.0), which supports LMIC manufacturers in becoming independently viable producers of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics by 2030; and the Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP), WHO’s mechanism for securing rights and enabling geodiversified technology transfer, initially focused on diagnostics and mRNA but expanding to other priority technologies. WHO and the European Commission expand partnership to combat AMRIn support of cancer control efforts in countries around the world, the WHO Academy has launched a course on National Cancer Control Planning for Programme Managers. The course is intended for those involved in strategic planning on cancer at national and subnational levels, including policy-makers, technical experts, funding and civil society partners among other stakeholders. The course provides learners with the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies for effective leadership and governance as well as capacity to formulate evidence-based national cancer control plans that are context-specific and feasible to implement. It emphasises the need for alignment with other health programmes and integration within the broader ministerial health strategy. The new course introduces the learner to the concept of cancer control and the WHO global initiatives on breast, cervical and childhood cancer, IAEA Rays of Hope and IARC Global Initiative on Cancer Registries.WHO launches new cancer control planning courseBelgium and WHO sign new agreementto boost global health accessibilityThe World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness Authority (HERA) have signed a €3.5 million agreement to expand their partnership to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) under the EU4Health programme. The new funding agreement will enable WHO to scale up work on research and development for new antibiotics, antifungals, and non-traditional therapies such as bacteriophages which use viruses to infect and kill bacteria. WHO will also enhance the SECURE initiative, co-led with the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), to improve sustainable access to new and existing antibiotics worldwide. Recognising AMR as a major and growing health threat, WHO and HERA first launched the partnership in 2022 to support the development of new medical countermeasures for tackling AMR and ensure their equitable access. Since then, the partnership has focused on advancing new antibiotics capable of combating the most dangerous drug-resistant pathogens.
20 COVER BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comThe Future of mRNA Is Being Built in APACBeyond scientific advancement, mRNA represents a strategic opportunity shaped by policy stability, public investment and regional collaboration. Across APAC, governments are increasingly recognising that supportive regulatory frameworks and long-term funding can serve as powerful competitive advantages, attracting global capital and talent. While political dynamics in the United States have slowed momentum, experts emphasise that the science underpinning mRNA technology remains sound. To fully realise its potential, the region will need greater coordination across borders, including regulatory harmonisation and joint development pathways, to build a resilient mRNA ecosystem capable of addressing shared health challenges and driving long-term innovation.
COVER 21BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.commRNA first entered the global spotlight during COVID-19, turning companies such as Moderna and BioNTech into household names. The technology returned to headlines more recently for a very different reason. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced plans to cut $500 million from mRNA vaccine research funding.While the US winds back research and investment, momentum is building elsewhere. Across Asia-Pacific (APAC), countries such as Australia, Singapore and South Korea are accelerating investment in mRNA research and manufacturing. The region now contributes about 30 per cent of global mRNA activity. Governments and institutions increasingly view mRNA not as a pandemic-era solution, but as a strategic platform technology with long-term value.That shift is reflected in the breadth of applications now under development. Researchers across APAC are trialling mRNA-based therapies for cancer, Tuberculosis (TB), Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and next-generation influenza vaccines. In the coming pages we look at the current mRNA landscape, where it is heading, and how the United States’ decision to halt funding could act as a catalyst for growth across the APAC mRNA sector.APAC mRNA LandscapeThere is a flurry of activity across APAC’s mRNA ecosystem, supported by strong policy, research and manufacturing efforts. The key developments are outlined below: Government Initiatives Governments across APAC are playing a crucial role in expanding the mRNA sector, supporting progress from early research to manufacturing scale-up. In Australia, funding streams such as the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund in Western Australia, the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and state-level commitments through mRNA Victoria have channelled investment into RNA facilities, translational programmes, pandemic readiness and early-stage therapeutic development.Singapore too has taken a similar approach through the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi) and a seven-year, $130 million National Initiative for RNA Biology and Its Applications (Nirba), backed by the National Research Foundation to support work spanning RNA vaccines, disease therapy and prevention. South Korea has gone further still, embedding mRNA into national preparedness planning. Its KRW 505.2 billion mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project, overseen by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), spans non-clinical research through phase III trials, with the aim of securing COVID-19 mRNA licences by 2028 and enabling vaccine deployment within 100–200 days in future pandemics.“Many regional countries view mRNA as strategically important from a scientific preparedness and long-term innovation standpoint, particularly in the context of pandemic preparedness. This has driven public-sector and academic investments aimed at building foundational expertise, workforce skills, and research infrastructure. APAC contributes about 30 per cent to the mRNA research, development and manufacturing. Markets such as Korea, Japan, Australia, and China are among those strengthening these ecosystems,” said Josephine Cheng, Senior Modality Expert, APAC Process Solutions, Life Science Business of Merck.These investments are now translating into tangible scientific and manufacturing capability across the region. “The APAC region now has many strong elements for a flourishing mRNA Biopharma sector: Extensive pre-clinical, clinical and commercial grade mRNA manufacturing facilities that can support R&D and ensure supply independence, many big multi-national mRNA companies with research hubs and large regional offices presence, several new companies with large teams based in countries such as China. All these are underpinned by a strong foundational base in exceptional worldclass RNA science and nanotechnology; many of which are supported by their respective Governmentbacked initiatives,” said Professor Archa Fox, The University of Western Australia’s School of Human Sciences, Director of Australian Centre for RNA Therapeutics in Cancer and Director of the RNA Innovation Foundry.Platform and Delivery InnovationMuch of APAC’s scientific activity focuses on improving mRNA delivery and stability. These remain two of the most persistent challenges for the modality. In Singapore, researchers are developing targeted delivery platforms to improve mRNA stability, supported by up to $2.87 million from CEPI
mRNA landscape in Japan«Sayoko Taga,Manager,Public Relations Team, Public & External Affairs Dept, Meji Pharma Japan’s mRNA landscape is steadily evolving, shaped by domestic investment, active regulatory engagement, and growing alignment across industry, academia, and government to support both near-term scale-up and longer-term innovation.Industrial base: Continued domestic investment in GMP manufacturing for mRNA/LNP, fill–finish, quality control and cold-chain, with largescale capacity still being built out. Collaboration with domestic CDMOs is advancing and improving supply flexibility for clinical trials and scale-up.Technology focus: Improving delivery (LNP design/targeting), enhancing thermostability, and exploring next-generation modalities such as self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), as well as combinations with immunotherapies. On the manufacturing side, capping efficiency and control of residual impurities are being strengthened.Regulatory and development environment: The PMDA is clarifying requirements and approaches for CMC and platform-based development, maintaining ongoing dialogue, and putting in place practical processes for vaccine strain updates. Clinical-trial activity is progressing toward a balance between domestic patient enrolment and integration into global development.Talent and public–private collaboration:With public support from programmes such as AMED and SCARDA, academia–industry collaboration is active. Licensing and co-development with overseas partners continue, alongside the training and mobility of mRNA specialists.Strengths and challenges: Japan’s strengths include quality-focused manufacturing capabilities and established clinical-trial infrastructure. Ongoing challenges include stable supply and domestic sourcing of raw materials, cost competitiveness and IP/international regulatory compliance, making continued capacity building through public–private efforts important. 22 COVER BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comfor ACM Biolabs to validate its thermostable ACM Tunable Platform, which allows storage at 2–8°C rather than ultra-cold temperatures. A collaboration between the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University has also produced a new vaccine-delivery approach designed to improve safety, enhance effectiveness and reduce patient burden.Manufacturing Capabilityand Infrastructure Build-outAPAC is building an advanced RNA manufacturing environment especially in Singapore and Australia. Australia (Victoria) has become the only location globally where both Moderna and BioNTech have committed R&D and manufacturing operations. One of the major bottlenecks in making mRNALNP therapeutics commonplace in clinical practice is manufacturing, and Australia has multiple companies advancing domestic production capacity. In Sydney, this includes the NSW Government-run pilot RNA manufacturing facility and Aurora Biosynthetics, a pioneering advanced RNA therapeutics manufacturing company. CDMO Southern RNA is also establishing manufacturing operations in Queensland.“Australia is supporting ecosystem development through initiatives such as RNA Australia, the RNA Institute at UNSW, BASE in Queensland and the Perth RNA Innovation Foundry at the University of Western Australia. From laboratory work through to clinical application, the country is building an integrated pipeline and laying the foundations for mRNA-based therapeutics to become a central component of clinical practice within the next five to 10 years as new products gain approval,” said Professor Greg Neely, Head, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney.
COVER 23BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comCompany Country / Region Indication Product / Programme Clinical StageAIM Vaccine Hong Kong / China RSV mRNA RSV vaccine Approved to enter Phase I clinical trials in the United StatesINNORNA Hong Kong / China RSV IN006 (bivalent RSV mRNA vaccine)Phase II enrollment and vaccination completedWestGene Biopharma China Cancer(therapeutic vaccine) WGc-043 IND approvals reported; first-inhuman / early clinical stageAbogen Biosciences China Cancer(KRAS, HPV)ABO2011 / ABO2102Phase I / Phase I–II clinical programmesEverest Medicines China Cancer(therapeutic vaccine) EVM14 / EVM15 First-in-human / Phase I; first patient dosedSK bioscience South Korea Japanese encephalitis mRNA JE vaccine Phase I/II global clinical trials Few mRNA Therapies in developmentSingapore is also expanding its manufacturing footprint and has opened an mRNA BioFoundry at A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute, using automation and machine learning to develop more efficient manufacturing workflows. “I see a robust and exciting mRNA landscape in APAC, with excellent foundational science on RNA in normal and diseased systems, as well as diverse mRNA research applications, including using RNA as medicine and targeting RNA. Increasingly, as more data is generated, RNA research also feeds into AI, enabling machine learning to learn RNA features and engineer better RNA drugs. To enable the use of mRNA in medicine, manufacturing and quality control are also very important. Singapore is building the technologies and infrastructure needed to enable high-quality RNA manufacturing,” said Dr Wan Yue, Executive Director, A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS).Therapeutic Expansion Beyond COVID-19Beyond vaccines, firms across APAC are expanding mRNA programmes into chronic disease, oncology and infectious diseases. In South Korea, GC Biopharma submitted an Investigational New Drug application for a phase I clinical trial of GC4006A, its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Dx&Vx signed a $220 million agreement with a US biotech partner to develop mRNA cancer vaccines, and EuBiologics has been selected to lead Korea’s $356 million mRNA vaccine programme for future pandemics.In Australia, researchers have reported preclinical success with an mRNA tuberculosis vaccine developed through collaboration between the University of Sydney, the Centenary Institute and the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, addressing limitations of the century-old BCG
Reshaping Asia’s Healthcare with mRNA Innovation«Patrick Bergstedt,Senior Vice President and General Manager – Asia and Emerging Markets, ModernaThe COVID-19 pandemic acted as both a challenge and a catalyst, serving as a testbed that fundamentally reshaped the biotechnology landscape across Asia and beyond. What emerged during this period was not just a breakthrough moment for mRNA, but the early foundation of a broader transformation that is still unfolding.1. Building an mRNA Innovation Ecosystem: Lessons from COVID-19COVID-19 underscored the transformative potential of mRNA technology. Decades of foundational research enabled the rapid deployment of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, demonstrating how sustained scientific investment can translate into real-world impact when urgency demands it.The emergence of an mRNA innovation ecosystem during this period enabled major advances across research and development, regulatory processes and clinical trial design. Governments, public health authorities, researchers, academic institutions, vaccine developers and regulators worked together to accelerate vaccine deployment without compromising safety or scientific rigour. This unprecedented level of collaboration laid the groundwork for future innovation around mRNA technologies.2. Expanding a Comprehensive Respiratory PortfolioBuilding on lessons from the pandemic, the industry is now working toward more comprehensive respiratory disease strategies. Addressing respiratory conditions remains a key focus, particularly as public concern persists. A 2025 perception survey across five APAC markets—Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan—found that around one24 COVER BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comthird of respondents remain concerned about hospitalisation due to COVID-19 or influenza.In response, next-generation vaccines targeting respiratory viruses such as RSV and influenza, along with combination vaccines, are advancing as part of broader efforts to improve prevention and preparedness for respiratory illnesses.3. Unlocking New Frontiers Beyond VaccinesWhile mRNA vaccines are widely regarded as the pandemic’s most visible success story, the technology’s potential extends well beyond COVID-19. Industry pipelines increasingly include mRNA-based therapies targeting cancer, infectious diseases and rare conditions, reflecting a broader ambition to rethink how medicines are developed and delivered. At the core of this shift is a patient-first philosophy: using mRNA to reimagine how diseases are treated and prevented, and to deliver the greatest possible impact. Advances across both vaccines and therapeutics are driven by this overarching goal.4. A New Era for Global Regulatory PathwaysOne of the pandemic’s less visible but most important achievements was the evolution of regulatory pathways. Rapid yet rigorous approval processes demonstrated that speed and safety are not mutually exclusive, setting new benchmarks for future medical development. There is now growing momentum behind harmonising regulatory frameworks globally. A platform-based approach to mRNA development is increasingly seen as a way to accelerate epidemic and pandemic responses, offering flexibility to adapt quickly to emerging threats while maintaining safety and efficacy standards.5. Delivering the Greatest ImpactThere remains strong optimism across the sector about the long-term potential of mRNA technologies. The pandemic showed how collaboration under pressure can unlock breakthroughs that might otherwise take decades.With its adaptability and scalability, mRNA is positioned to transform not only vaccines but also a wide range of therapeutic areas. As the industry continues to build on the lessons of COVID-19, the promise of mRNA lies in its ability to reshape medicine and improve health outcomes across Asia and globally.
COVER 25BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comvaccine. The Victorian Government continues to support therapeutic expansion through the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund, with six research teams sharing AU$1.7 million to advance mRNA treatments for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, neurological and autoinflammatory conditions. Separately, researchers led by the University of Technology Sydney, in collaboration with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and University of New South Wales (UNSW), secured AU$1.8 million to develop an mRNA vaccine targeting urinary tract infections.China is a major contributor to the global mRNA oncology pipeline. Of the 58 mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccines currently in development worldwide, 45 per cent originate from Chinese companies, even though none have yet entered phase III. WestGene Biopharma, Everest Medicines and Abogen Biosciences have received IND clearances in both the US and China and are viewed as potential candidates for global out-licensing. In Japan, Meiji Seika Pharma initiated collaborative research with the National Cancer Center to advance the clinical application of mRNA in oncology, including personalised cancer vaccines.Where it is heading APAC’s momentum in mRNA is being driven by what scientists see as a widening runway beyond COVID-19. “I think the success of the COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccine really put the spotlight on mRNA as a powerful new technology. The fact that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine has now been given to billions of people and shows an extremely good safety profile opens this technology to many other uses. The most obvious next application is to develop vaccines against other infectious diseases, then more generally as a platform to maintain readiness for future pandemics. The efforts are well underway in Australia and globally. We don’t know yet what infectious agents will be most effectively prevented through mRNA vaccines vs our more traditional protein based approaches, but this knowledge will come over time,” said Professor Neely.Post-pandemic, APAC is building on the infrastructure established during COVID-19 and beginning to diversify into seasonal influenza, RSV, CMV, oncology and other areas. “Beyond infectious diseases, the next major frontier for mRNA is in cancer vaccines, which function as therapeutic interventions. In this approach, mutations or genes that are uniquely expressed in a patient’s cancer, but not in healthy tissue, are encoded into mRNA and delivered using lipid nanoparticles. These strategies APAC Companies in the mRNA SpaceAustralia Vaxxas – mRNA vaccine delivery via needlefree patch Southern RNA – mRNA CDMO Aurora Biosynthetics – RNA production Zitra Medicines – mRNA therapeutics for rare disease Enhanced Analgesics – mRNA-LNP therapeutics Singapore ACM Biolabs – mRNA delivery platforms RVAC Medicines - A mRNA platform company with a pipeline of innovative products that covers a range of disease areasSouth Korea SK bioscience – mRNA vaccines (JE, COVID) EuBiologics – mRNA pandemic vaccines Lemonex – mRNA delivery technologies Dx&Vx – mRNA cancer vaccinesJapan Meiji Seika Pharma – mRNA vaccines ARCALIS – mRNA manufacturing Daiichi Sankyo – RNA technologiesChina Abogen Biosciences – mRNA vaccines and oncology WestGene Biopharma – mRNA cancer vaccines Everest Medicines – mRNA oncology assets Walvax Biotechnology – mRNA vaccine developmentHong Kong INNORNA – IN006, a bivalent mRNA vaccine targeting RSV-A and RSV-B AIM Vaccine – mRNA RSV vaccine
26 COVER BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com2025 key developmentsNovember 2025 BioNTech opened an mRNA R&D manufacturing facility at La Trobe University, ahead of a clinical manufacturing facility scheduled for 2026.October 2025 Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University developed a new mRNA vaccine delivery method aimed at improving safety, effectiveness and reducing patient burden.July 2025 Six Victorian research teams shared AU$1.7 million to accelerate mRNA treatments for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, neurological and autoinflammatory diseases. Dx&Vx signed a US$220 million mRNA cancer vaccine development deal with a US biotech firm.May 2025 The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) officially launched the KRW 505.2 billion mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project under the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan. CEPI committed up to US$2.87 million to ACM Biolabs to validate its thermostable ACM Tunable Platform (ATP) for mRNA vaccine delivery, enabling storage at 2–8°C.April 2025 EuBiologics was selected to lead Korea’s US$356 million mRNA pandemic vaccine project.March 2025 Singapore launched the seven-year, US$130 million National Initiative for RNA Biology and Its Applications (Nirba), backed by the National Research Foundation, to study RNA in vaccines, disease therapy and prevention.are designed to activate the patient’s immune system, enabling a targeted immune response that can eliminate tumour cells in responsive patients. Recent mRNA-based therapeutics, including those reported by BioNTech, have demonstrated promising efficacy in difficult-to-treat cancers such as pancreatic cancer. Significant research and development efforts in this area are ongoing in Australia and globally,” said Professor Neely.Alongside oncology, researchers are exploring how mRNA can be used to re-engineer immune responses more directly. “In parallel, there are emerging efforts to use mRNA–lipid nanoparticle platforms to deliver chimeric antigen receptors to immune cells, including CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M cells, enabling the generation of tumourkilling cells directly within the patient’s body. Programmes such as those being advanced by CREATE Medicines are conducting cutting-edge clinical trials in Australia. This approach may represent the future direction of the CAR field. While early safety profiles appear encouraging, efficacy will need to be confirmed through ongoing and forthcoming clinical trial data,” said Professor Neely.Beyond immuno-oncology, mRNA is also being applied to gene editing and gene replacement. “Another important area of progress is gene editing and gene replacement. At present, the most advanced applications involve mRNA–lipid nanoparticle–based base editors used to correct pathogenic mutations, with many successes concentrated in liver-targeted therapies due to the relative efficiency of mRNA–LNP delivery to this organ. Significant progress is expected in rare disease applications as new delivery strategies are developed,” said Professor Neely.He added, “For gene replacement, mRNA–lipid nanoparticle platforms are being used to deliver functional or enhanced versions of human genes, either to correct loss-of-function mutations in rare diseases or to modify disease trajectories in more common conditions by supplying therapeutic gene copies. Early efforts have included cystic fibrosis, where delivery of functional CFTR has been demonstrated, although achieving sustained disease modification remains challenging.” Professor Neely also leads a Sydney-based company, Enhanced Analgesics, which is developing mRNA–lipid nanoparticle therapeutics to deliver an enhanced version of a naturally occurring human pain-modulating protein. The therapy is administered intranasally, enabling delivery to the brain. In preclinical studies, this approach has demonstrated strong efficiency and therapeutic potential.
COVER 27BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comCooling Western Enthusiasmand APAC’s AdvantageWhile the United States pioneered mRNA technology, cooling enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccines and shifts in funding priorities have raised questions about whether this pullback could ripple across the Asia-Pacific. Experts, however, believe the uncertainty in some Western markets gives APAC an opportunity to accelerate.As Dr Gisela Mautner, CEO, Noxopharm said, “The ongoing uncertainty around RNA-based technologies in some parts of the world represents a significant opportunity for our region to build a global leadership position via a sustainable industry backed by world-leading research and collaboration.”Dr Wan Yue agrees, “I think this presents an amazing opportunity for Asia to double down on RNA research, attract the best RNA scientists and mRNA companies to the region, and translate our understanding of RNA into better engineered RNA products, not only for Asian populations but also for the rest of the world. Our current understanding of how mRNAs can be used in medicine is just the tip of the iceberg, and Asia has an opportunity to become a world leader in RNA medicines.”That opportunity is not limited to science alone. Stable policy frameworks and public investment are increasingly seen as competitive advantages. “We also have the opportunity to attract investment from all around the world by offering a stable and supportive framework in which to invest in these technologies. We have seen this here in Australia already, with the federal government developing a national RNA Blueprint and also investing in new mRNA facilities alongside state governments. Such strategic policies are an example of how the sector can be grown in the years ahead, supporting the development of an ecosystem that develops new drugs, vaccines and manufacturing capabilities to benefit all citizens,” said Dr Mautner. Political dynamics elsewhere, experts argue, do not undermine the underlying science. “The science, safety and efficacy of mRNA technology is generally well established. Although mRNA seems to be caught in political culture wars in the United States, that does not change the science and we need to forge ahead. The APAC region has a great opportunity to be world-leading in mRNA innovation and application beyond infectious diseases,” said Professor Archa Fox. Experts also emphasise that collaboration and coordination will be critical to sustaining momentum across the region. “Any measures that promote regional collaboration in this field should also be encouraged, whether from an investment or drug development perspective, as such approaches will spur further growth and help ensure the most promising technologies have the greatest chance of success. We also believe governments in general should be active in promoting RNA technologies to local populations, helping educate people about the numerous benefits these platforms will deliver.” said Dr Mautner. There is also a need for governments across APAC to work together more closely, particularly on regulation and development pathways. “The missing element is a coordinated effort by governments across APAC borders. We should come together to use the power of mRNA to tackle the clear regional health challenges that we face such as higher prevalence of certain cancers, chronic diseases and tropical and emerging pathogens. Coupled to this is a greater need for innovation and harmonisation in regulatory approaches, to really take advantage of what mRNA can offer in terms of rapid design and manufacture for mRNA.” said Professor Archa Fox.The APAC mRNA market is already worth $2.32 billion. It is expected to reach $7.40 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Countries across the region are racing to secure a larger share through advances in science, manufacturing, and policy. Ayesha SiddiquiChina is a major contributor to the global mRNA oncology pipeline. Of the 58 mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccines currently in development worldwide, 45 per cent originate from Chinese companies, even though none have yet entered phase III. WestGene Biopharma, Everest Medicines and Abogen Biosciences have received IND clearances in both the US and China and are viewed as potential candidates for global out-licensing. In Japan, Meiji Seika Pharma initiated collaborative research with the National Cancer Center to advance the clinical application of mRNA in oncology, including personalised cancer vaccines.
28 EYE CARE BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comSeeing Opportunityin OphthalmologyAsia-Pacific is emerging as one of the most active regions for ophthalmology innovation. In recent months, a wave of cross-border partnerships and licensing deals has underscored both the scale of unmet need in eye disease and the region’s growing ambition to play a larger role in treatment development. From glaucoma and retinal disorders to dry eye disease and childhood myopia, companies across pharma, biotech, and medtech are increasingly accelerating clinical progress.The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of vision impairment or blindness. Asia accounts for over 60 per cent of global cases, according to the Global Burden of Disease report. This reflects not only population size, but also rapidly rising risk factors such as ageing and diabetes. Vision impairment is a leading contributor to years lived with disability and costs the global economy an estimated $411 billion annually in lost productivity. In Asia-Pacific, where populations are ageing rapidly and diabetes prevalence continues to rise, the stakes are even higher. Without targeted intervention, retinal diseases alone, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), could contribute to $715 billion in lost productivity and 13 million healthy life years lost over this decade across ten major economies, according to World Economic Forum report. This burden is spread across a wide spectrum of eye conditions. There are more than 100 types of eye diseases, ranging from common and largely selflimiting conditions such as conjunctivitis to complex, chronic disorders that can lead to permanent vision loss. While many minor eye conditions are well managed with existing therapies, the scale and severity of vision loss are overwhelmingly driven by retinal diseases, glaucoma, and age-related eye disorders. As a result, the majority of research and development activity is focused on these areas, where unmet medical need, long-term disability, and economic impact are greatest.The rising clinical and economic burden has driven a flurry of ophthalmology-focused activity across APAC in recent months. In December 2025, Japan’s Santen Pharmaceutical and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) launched SONIC 2.0, a next-generation open innovation centre focused on accelerating the translational development of diseasemodifying therapies for vision-threatening eye diseases. Research priorities span glaucoma, myopia control, anti-scarring therapies, and new nonclinical models for presbyopia.A month earlier, 4D Molecular Therapeutics partnered with Otsuka Pharmaceutical to develop and commercialise 4D-150, a gene therapy candidate for wet AMD and DME across major Asia-Pacific markets. The collaboration combines genetic medicine expertise with regional regulatory and commercial capabilities, aiming to deliver durable disease control in retinal vascular conditions.China-based Everest Medicines has also expanded its ophthalmology pipeline through an exclusive licensing deal with Visara, a subsidiary of NovaBridge Biosciences, for VIS-101, a bifunctional biologic targeting VEGF-A and ANG-2. The asset, currently in Phase 2 trials in China, is expected to be Phase 3-ready in 2026 and is designed to provide more durable benefits than existing retinal therapies.Big pharma companies are jumping in this space too. REGENXBIO, in partnership with AbbVie, is advancing ABBV-RGX-314, a Phase 3 one-time gene therapy for wet AMD aimed at reducing the burden of frequent eye injections. Eli Lilly has moved to acquire Adverum Biotechnologies, while Sanofi received US FDA fast-track designation for its macular degeneration gene therapy SAR446597.New operating models are also emerging. In September 2025, Eyexora launched with a hub-andspoke model to accelerate ophthalmology innovation, establishing co-headquarters in Singapore as part of its global expansion. The company is building its initial portfolio through collaborations in Singapore and Europe, with early programmes in-licensed from the SERI. Evolving treatmentsFrom biologics and gene therapy to devices and cell-based approaches, ophthalmology treatments are
evolving to address both clinical need and real-world delivery challenges.Gene Therapy Gene therapy is reshaping ophthalmology by addressing disease at its genetic root rather than managing symptoms over time. The approach was clinically validated in 2017 by Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited retinal disease, which delivered sustained vision improvement in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis and helped catalyse a broader wave of retinal gene therapy development. Today, a DelveInsight report says that more than 55 companies are advancing over 125 ophthalmology gene therapy programmes, reflecting the scale and momentum building across the field.Asia-Pacific is increasingly part of this global push. Pharma players such as Astellas Pharma are partnering with platform developers like 4D Molecular Therapeutics to advance treatments for rare monogenic eye diseases. Otsuka Enters into Licensing Agreement for Ophthalmic Gene Therapy Drug Candidate 4D-150 (Anti-VEGF agent). In China, Neurophth Therapeutics, which positions itself as the country’s first gene therapy company focused on ophthalmic diseases, has advanced multiple inherited eye disease programmes into pivotal clinical studies, signalling growing domestic capability and a pipeline of more than 10 ophthalmic gene therapy drug candidates.Beyond rare genetic disorders, gene therapy is also being explored for high-burden retinal diseases. “High durability treatments for chronic retinal diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (fewer injections/visits, similar vision), particularly gene-therapy-based agents like 4D-150 that provide long-term delivery of a therapeutic agent after a single clinic-based injection. This contrasts with current approaches that require regular injections,” said Dr Beau Fenner, Consultant, Medical Retina Department, and Clinical Director, Ocular Genetics Service, Singapore National Eye Centre.He added, “Longer-acting antiVEGF options like gene therapy-based treatments may improve outcomes by reducing missed/late injections and keeping disease under control. Gene therapy could shift to ‘treat once, rescue as needed.’ If pivotal programmes land with good safety and predictable rescue thresholds, the biggest outcome change may be stabilisation with far fewer treatment events (less cumulative risk, less burden).”EYE CARE 29BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comKey Asia-PacificOphthalmology Companies Santen Pharmaceutical (Japan) - A leading specialist eye-care company with a strong presence in glaucoma and retinal disease. Actively expanding its biologics, devices, and innovation pipeline through partnerships across Asia. Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Japan) -Strengthening its ophthalmology footprint through partnerships Everest Medicines (China) - Advancing latestage retinal biologics, including VIS-101, and positioning itself as a key regional player in ophthalmology drug development and commercialisation. AffaMed Therapeutics (China) - Focused on late-stage ophthalmology assets Neurophth Therapeutics (China) - Positions itself as China’s first gene therapy company dedicated to ophthalmic diseases, with multiple inherited retinal disease programmes in advanced clinical development. Eyexora (Singapore / APAC) - A newly launched ophthalmology-focused biotech using a hub-and-spoke model, building its pipeline through collaborations and in-licensed assets to accelerate innovation. Arctic Vision (China) - Actively involved in the identification and development of innovative therapies for ophthalmic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and agerelated macular degeneration. The company has a robust pipeline of ophthalmic therapies in different clinical development stages. Eyestem (India)- Developing regenerative therapies for retinal degeneration, with a focus on scalable manufacturing and long-term access in emerging markets.Biologics and Long-Acting InjectablesBiologics and long-acting injectables continue to anchor near-term innovation in ophthalmology, particularly in retinal disease, where extending durability and reducing treatment burden remain key goals. Alongside next-generation anti-VEGF therapies, complement inhibitors are emerging as a distinct biologic class in late-stage dry AMD. “Complement inhibitor drugs for late-stage dry AMD are already in clinical use in the US and may become available in other markets in the coming few years. These medications offer very modest benefits
30 EYE CARE BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comto patients, but do represent a new paradigm in how we approach this condition,” said Dr Fenner. He added, “In dry AMD with geographic atrophy, complement inhibitors may slow lesion growth, buying time by delaying central vision loss and preserving visual function, though the magnitude of benefit and ideal patient selection remain debated.”In Asia-Pacific, several companies are strengthening their ophthalmology biologics pipelines through partnerships and regional execution. Santen Pharmaceutical is expanding its retinal and glaucoma biologics portfolio through targeted collaborations. In China, Everest Medicines is advancing the late-stage bifunctional biologic VIS101, which targets VEGF-A and ANG-2 for retinal vascular diseases. AffaMed Therapeutics, another Chinese biotech, is also advancing a portfolio of latestage ophthalmology biologics.Cell TherapiesCell-based therapies represent the most ambitious frontier in ophthalmology, aiming not just to slow disease progression but to restore or replace damaged retinal tissue. “Cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative diseases like dry AMD and inherited retinal diseases have been in development for some years now, but evidence for functional benefit to patients remains very limited. Realistically, we don't expect this class of therapies to enter routine clinical practice in the next few years,” said Dr Fenner.Despite these challenges, research activity continues, particularly in Asia-Pacific. Companies such as India’s Eyestem are developing stem cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration, including dry AMD, with an emphasis on scalable manufacturing and regional access. Academic institutions also play a critical role, with the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research pioneering induced pluripotent stem cell-based retinal research and supporting translational programmes aimed at regeneration. “Cell therapy is an ‘aspirational leap’ toward restoration/repair, but it’s still earlier and operationally more complex than injections,” said Dr Fenner.Devices and combination approachesDevices and combination approaches are becoming an increasingly important layer of ophthalmology innovation, focused on reducing treatment burden, improving adherence, and translating therapies into real-world clinical practice. Unlike novel drugs alone, these strategies often combine devices, biologics, and digital tools to enhance durability and outcomes.Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is one of the best established of device-led innovation in ophthalmology, with companies such as Santen Pharmaceutical actively involved in advancing glaucoma management through device-enabled and combination approaches that aim to reduce longterm reliance on eye drops and lower surgical risk. The ophthalmology pipeline is evolving through advances in treatment delivery alongside progress in disease biology. “Pace of development is faster in ‘delivery/durability,’ and steadier in ‘new biology’. The fastest change is how we deliver VEGF suppression (implants, and gene therapy). The PDS gaining diabetic indications is a concrete example of this acceleration. The harder change (but potentially bigger long-term) is true disease modification for GA — complement inhibitors are step 1 while cell therapy is more of a moonshot,” said Dr Fenner.However, translating these advances into routine care raises important economic questions. “Economics and access to new medications remains an area of concern. Upcoming gene-based therapies in particular are expected to carry hefty price tags and changes to public healthcare financing may be required if all patients are to benefit from these new developments,”said Dr Fenner.As innovation accelerates, the true test for ophthalmology will lie in balancing durability and disease modification with affordability and access. Ayesha Siddiqui
JAPAN 31BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comJapan Pushes Startups toPower the Next Biotech CycleIn recent years, the Japanese government has rolled out a series of initiatives to reshape the country’s biopharma ecosystem. These include expanded venture funding, targeted subsidies for drug development, and tax incentives for investors, entrepreneurs, and startup employees. With smaller companies and startups widely seen as key drivers of innovation, Japan in 2025 is stepping up efforts to strengthen its startup ecosystem and accelerate the translation of research into products. The Japanese government has stepped up efforts to strengthen its startup ecosystem, rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at making the country more attractive to researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors. Recent measures include the launch of the J-RISE (Japan Research & Innovation for Scientific Excellence) initiative, designed to draw top scientific talent to Japan, as well as expanded support from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). The government has committed JPY 350 billion (about $ 2.3 billion) to support startups, with AMED offering matching grants that can double venture capital investments for eligible biopharma companies. These policy moves are being matched by a growing flow of private capital, as biotech-focused venture funds step up their presence in the market.Rise of biotech fundsJapan has seen a surge in large, dedicated venture funds backing biotech and life sciences in 2025. In July 2025, AN Venture Partners closed its first fund at $200 million, one of the largest Japan-focused biotech funds to date, with a mandate to invest globally while strengthening Japan’s biopharma ecosystem.In the same month, University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC) closed its sixth fund at ¥47 billion ($326 million), bringing its assets under management to more than $1 billion. The fund will back seed and early-stage startups across deep-tech fields including healthcare, life sciences, information technology, and engineering. Founded in 2004, UTEC has built one of Japan’s largest deep-tech portfolios, spanning more than 150 companies originating largely from academic research. Its notable successes include PeptiDream, now a publicly listed peptide drug discovery company with a market capitalisation above $1.4 billion, and OriCiro Genomics, acquired by Moderna in 2023 for $85 million.In October 2025, Fast Track Initiative closed its approximately $130 million Fund IV to support healthcare innovation. Corporate venture activity is also expanding. In December 2025, Olympus Corporation launched Olympus Innovation Ventures Fund II, committing $150 million to invest in MedTech startups developing solutions in gastrointestinal, urology, and respiratory care.Shared labs and open innovation hubsA growing network of shared wet labs, coworking research spaces, and open innovation hubs is reshaping how life science startups are built in Japan. By giving early-stage companies access to high-quality laboratory infrastructure, these facilities lower the cost of company formation and reduce dependence on building private labs or navigating university bureaucracy.In the Tokyo area, the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM) operates in partnership with BioLabs, bringing a globally networked incubator
32 JAPAN BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.compharmaceutical companies, according to reports from Merito Network. Going global: From Japan to the world Japan is increasingly building formal pathways to help life science startups expand beyond its borders. Programmes led by Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J), often in partnership with global operators such as BioLabs, Mitsui Fudosan, and overseas institutions, are designed to help founders gain international exposure, mentorship, and market access. A central example is UNIKORN, LINK-J’s global expansion support programme, which helps startups prepare for overseas growth through mentoring, networking, and targeted training. As part of this effort, LINK-J, BioLabs, and Mitsui Fudosan were selected for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s TIB CATAPULT initiative and launched LINK-BioBAY TOKYO, an incubation cluster aimed at supporting Japanese life science startups in scaling globally. In October 2025, LINK-J also hosted a UNIKORN special event focused on global perspectives, where experienced pharma executives shared practical guidance on how Japanese startups can succeed internationally. Cross-border infrastructure and partnerships are also expanding. The Bio Garage Initiative, launched by RIVERNESS and Esco Aster, links LiSH Lab in Japan with a BioLab in Singapore, enabling research that cannot be conducted within universities and allowing both sites to operate using harmonised equipment and data standards. Through its venture arm, 144 Ventures, RIVERNESS has also invested alongside Toyo Seikan Group in Singapore-based cell technology startup ImpacFat, strengthening Japan–Southeast Asia biotech ties. ABVC BioPharma announced a strategy with its joint venture partner BioLite Japan to connect Japanese biotech with Taiwan’s capital markets and AI-driven development capabilities. LabCentral, in partnership with Shonan iPark, has launched a new Cambridge-based educational programme for Japanese life sciences entrepreneurs, giving selected teams access to mentors, investors, and the US biotech ecosystem. Plug and Play Japan, working with the Tokyo metropolitan government’s startup support initiative, ran the Rising Biotech Challenge 2025, selecting 12 biotech startups & research projects for mentorship & support aimed at accelerating entry into global markets. These efforts complement broader government & private-sector measures to support the global development of Japanese biotech startups. Ayesha SiddiquiJapan’s Biotech BreakthroughsAttract Big CapitalServe BioPharma, an oncology biotech developing tumor-targeting oncolytic virus therapies, completed a Series B funding round in December 2025 with a second close of about ¥670 million (overall Series B now ~¥2.17 billion). This latest capital will support non-clinical development, overseas clinical trial plans, and manufacturing expansion. Fermelanta, a synthetic biology company producing rare natural compounds via microbial fermentation, raised approximately ¥2 billion in a Series A round in late September 2025, with plans to build a pilot facility in 2026. RegCell, a company founded by Japanese scientists and focused on regulatory T-cell reprogramming therapies for autoimmune diseases and transplantation, closed about $45.8 million in funding in 2025. The company also completed a transition of its headquarters to the US to accelerate global development while maintaining scientific roots in Japan.Shinobi Therapeutics, a biotech developing off-the-shelf immune-evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies based on research from Kyoto University. The company added experienced leadership and presented data at major scientific meetings late in 2025.model to Japan. Located in Kawasaki, the site houses more than 300 shared pieces of equipment and includes BSL-2 laboratory space.LINK-BioBAY TOKYO offers modular lab and coworking space operated by BioLabs, Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J), and Mitsui Fudosan. The site supports early-stage companies through the BioLabs Education Program, which helps startups expand toward the US market, and hosts investor days and matching events to connect founders with partners and capital. LiSH Lab at Takanawa Gateway has opened as a hub linking startups with researchers, investors, and corporate partners under one roof. SakuLab, created by Astellas Pharma in partnership with BioLabs and Mitsui Fudosan, provides both chemistry and biology bench space alongside mentoring from Astellas scientists. Shonan Health Innovation Park, developed by Takeda, has grown into one of Japan’s largest life science campuses. The site combines private and shared laboratories, coworking offices, and structured engagement between startups and established
SPEAKING WITH 33BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com“There are talent shortages in specialised modalities such as ADCs, peptides, and computational biology”«Katie Edgar, Chief Business Officer, KBI Biopharma,USA As the Asia Pacific (APAC) contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) sector continues to expand rapidly due to rising R&D investment, strong biotech formation, increased demand for Investigational New Drug (IND) - enabling and early Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) services, and national incentives for biomanufacturing, KBI Biopharma is focused on targeted expansion into Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Australia, for improving local engagement and enhancing access to global network. BioSpectrum Asia spoke to Katie Edgar, Chief Business Officer, KBI Biopharma to learn more about the company’s growth plans in 2026, and about the growth opportunities in store for the CDMO market within the APAC region. Edited excerpts How would KBI Biopharma highlight its achievements in 2025? Which key projects strengthened the company’s global CDMO presence? 2025 has been a pivotal and transformative year for KBI Biopharma, with breakthroughs across scientific platforms, digital capabilities, customer experience, and strategic partnerships. We completed significant platform upgrades to ensure speed, consistency, and robustness for early-stage programmes heading toward IND. These improvements have positioned KBI as a top choice for biotechs seeking reliable, high-quality INDenabling support. A major milestone this year was the build-out of an integrated, end-to-end development and manufacturing model, including a strategic partnership with Argonaut Manufacturing Services for Drug Product (DP). This partnership streamlines vendor management, strengthens supply chain reliability, and gives our clients a more seamless, unified experience from cell line development (CLD) through DP release. We currently offer GMP antibody drug conjugate (ADC) testing at our Geneva site, and plan to expand this service to our Boulder and North Carolina sites in 2026. In addition, we are in the design phase for building a state-of-the-art ADC process development lab at one of our North Carolina sites. What are the major plans lined up for 2026? Are there any new investment plans? How much growth is anticipated in 2026? 2026 will be a year of strategic expansion and deeper integration across our technology, digital, and commercial capabilities. A few key priorities include the launch of a peptide development offering, which will expand KBI’s modality coverage and strengthen our competitive position for nextgeneration therapeutics; continued upgrades to mammalian CLD, including platform automation, predictive stability analytics, and enhancements focused on IND quality and reproducibility; further expansion of ADC capabilities, with targeted analytical and process development investments to support the next wave of conjugated and targeted biologics; and more around strengthening our digital and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, network enhancements, and scaling our end-to-end ecosystem. We anticipate solid double-digit growth in 2026, driven by a few key factors, some of which include a rebounding funding cycle that we’re seeing in the current market dynamic, which is enabling earlystage clients to restart IND-enabling programmes – a sweet spot for KBI and a large portion of our portfolio of customers. Additionally, there is rapid ADC and XDC market segment growth, and targeted biologics market expansion, particularly in the ability to meet the needs for complex monoclonal antibody (mAb) development; and our investment in growth within the APAC region, enabled by KBI Japan and additional resources to support the region.
34 SPEAKING WITH BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comPlease elaborate upon the company’s strong moves in the Asia Pacific region? KBI is purposefully expanding across the APAC region, recognising its rapid scientific growth and increasing demand for global-quality CDMO partners. We’re focused on the formal launch and staffing of KBI Japan, providing local language and cultural alignment; targeted expansion into Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Australia with technically fluent commercial teams; integration of APAC programmes into global digital and quality systems for seamless cross-site execution; and partnerships with key regional innovation hubs and institutions. We feel these steps will further enable APAC innovators to access world-class IND-enabling, development, and manufacturing pathways without geographic barriers. How is KBI Biopharma exploring the area of AI-based drug discovery? What opportunities do you foresee? KBI has established a dedicated AI governance and innovation task force to ensure responsible application of AI across biologics development. Specifically, we have predictive modeling for CLD, media optimisation, and yield improvement. We are currently exploring AI-enhanced analytics for complex data interpretation, automation of data capture, documentation, and quality workflows, and secure AI frameworks that protect IP and ensure global regulatory and quality compliance. Looking ahead, we foresee AI helping with faster, higherquality IND-enabling packages, improved process predictability and fewer experimental iterations, reduced development risk and stronger comparability packages, and more. We expect AI to further become a competitive differentiator when applied in a scientifically rigorous and secure manner. Our job is to provide the framework and protections for the ability to provide this in a way that maintains the regulatory and quality scrutiny that patients deserve. What are your thoughts on the key trends & challenges for the global CDMO sector, including the APAC region, in 2026? As far as trends, we know there is continued rebound in early-stage biotech funding, which is both opportunistic and promising for the biologics industry as a whole, there’s strong momentum in ADC & targeted biologics, & onshoring in the US & supply chain resilience are top of mind for all of us in the industry. As noted, an expansion of microbial, peptide, & biosimilar platforms is something to watch, particularly in the APAC region given incentives by certain municipalities on regulatory opportunities for acceleration pathways. Digitalisation & AI as critical enablers of speed, quality, & transparency continue to drive discussions around innovation and change. And a growing preference for end-to-end service models with unified DS-DP-analytics frameworks continues to be on trend; but more important with this, is proof of concept. Anyone can announce a partnership, but satisfied customers and meaningful impact are the true KPIs we all need to be striving for. When it comes to challenges for CDMOs, capacity constraints at late-stage and commercial scales are always going to be relevant, but with the current regulatory landscape, these are even more top of mind for the late-stage programmes. Rising regulatory expectations for comparability, data integrity, and analytical depth require very specific expertise. We are fortunate to not only have a robust in-house regulatory team to help facilitate this for our customers, but also partner with A-REG Solutions to ensure best-in-class solutions to our customers in delivering tailored regulatory support that meets each client’s distinct needs based on the specifics of the markets in which they are filing globally. Additionally, one of the most challenging things to watch is ongoing talent shortages in specialised modalities such as ADCs, peptides, computational biology, and late-stage CMC. We pride ourselves on the technical expertise of our staff, so continuing to provide the best requires us to continue to hire, train, and retain the best. Fortunately, KBI’s platform innovations, digital investments, AI governance, growing partnership portfolio, APAC expansion, and growing late-stage pipeline position the company to meet these challenges with strength & confidence. Dr Manbeena [email protected] know there is continued rebound in early-stage biotech funding, which is both opportunistic and promising for the biologics industry as a whole, there’s strong momentum in ADC & targeted biologics, & onshoring in the US & supply chain resilience are top of mind for all of us in the industry. An expansion of microbial, peptide, & biosimilar platforms are something to watch, particularly in the APAC region given incentives by certain municipalities on regulatory opportunities for acceleration pathways.
SPEAKING WITH 35BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com“Industry needs to evolve and invest in ADC payloads with more differentiated mechanisms of action”«Dr Allan Jordan, Vice President,Oncology Drug Discovery,Sygnature Discovery, UKAntibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are becoming highly valuable in the market, with currently 15 approved ADCs targeting 16 different indications for haematological and solid tumour malignancies. With key components of ADCs, such as mAbs, linkers, payloads, and conjugation technologies, undergoing rapid advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for future research and development in this field, particularly in North America which is the largest market shareholder for ADCs. US recently wrapped up the world’s largest & definitive Antibody-Drug Conjugate event, World ADC, held in November 2025, highlighting the development of novel ADCs through key market players, and a surge in patent application filing for ADCs. Dr Allan Jordan, Vice President of Oncology Drug Discovery at Sygnature Discovery, UK spoke in detail with BioSpectrum Asia about the future outlook of ADCs. Edited excerpts;What were the key highlights at Sygnature Discovery in 2025? Please elaborate upon the company's plans for 2026.Despite current market challenges in terms of funding constraints and geopolitical uncertainties, we have seen many project successes. Several of our customers have had potential human therapeutics nominated for pre-clinical development. We also hit a really significant milestone, with two compounds gaining marketing approval. We’re building for success, with investments in areas like high-throughput chemistry to help drive progress and rapidly explore emerging structure-reactivity relationships across all of our projects. 2025 also heralded a broadening of our offerings in other modalities, particularly with the launch of our New Path ADC platform. We believe that ADC linkers and payloads are the overlooked aspects of ADC discovery and, through bringing together our expertise in small molecule drug discovery and applying it to this setting, we can help to deliver a step change in the potency and safety of these agents.We’re positioning ourselves to help our customers, planning for growth and further scientific success. We’re fully committed to enhancing our cutting-edge drug discovery solutions, across all modalities, from small molecules, through glues, degraders and other modalities, to our ADC capabilities. We remain committed to further strengthening our capabilities in the use of AI tools to generate ideas, test hypotheses and amplify the impact and delivery of our scientific teams. Sygnature recently took part in World ADC in the US, the world’s largest and longeststanding ADC-dedicated forum. What were the key takeaways from the event? One of the key themes of the meeting was the desire to move away from the limited choice of payloads deployed in current ADCs. Almost all ADCs in pre-clinical and clinical development still depend on the delivery of drugs interfering with microtubules or with topoisomerases. While these remain clinically effective, they do also carry significant liabilities and side effects, and it’s getting increasingly harder to differentiate new agents entering the clinic from established and approved therapies, making the chances of successful approval more difficult. So, the industry needs to evolve and invest in payloads with more differentiated mechanisms of action. The desire to move in this direction is clear, but the expertise to do so is running somewhat further behind. That’s the specific gap that our NewPath platform and expertise is designed to address. My other take-home was actually a topic that was not being talked about very much, in that the actual patient experience with ADCs was almost completely absent. While we talk about these agents being targeted and demonstrating reduced
36 SPEAKING WITH BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comThe ADC field is now systematically rethinking how we can “rescue” small molecule drugs with poor PK properties or intolerable on-target mechanistic toxicity and turn these into viable therapeutics. We call these “fallen angel” payloads, and we can now start to think differently about how we can rescue that investment in compounds with real therapeutic promise, but which fell short of becoming single agent small molecule therapeutics. We can extend this further, into larger molecular weight payloads, such as heterobifunctional degraders, and protein-protein interaction inhibitors.side effects, they are still not as kind and as gentle as we persuade ourselves to believe. It’s really important that we do not lose sight of the end customer, our patients, and strive to improve these therapies to really improve patient quality of life. We also heard many stories of improvements in cancer patient’s Progression Free Survival (PFS) but overlooked the fact that the key measure, Overall Survival (OS) is often little unchanged compared to untreated patients. Again, we need to make radical improvements here, and I’m optimistic that the move toward novel payloads will help to drive this forward. AI is transforming drug discovery. How is Sygnature making use of AI-driven methods to accelerate ADC development?There has been much talk of AI playing a deeper role in the design of more specific antibodies and delivering biomolecules with better stability, lower immunogenicity and more robust control over conjugation of the linker/payload to the antibody. There is real promise to improve the delivery vector, which in turn will help improve therapeutic profiles. We routinely embed Generative AI tools across our design-make-test-analyse cycles, alongside real-world human expertise and intelligence across many of our small molecule therapeutic projects. This combination of expert scientist and AI system is known as Human-in-the-Loop AI and we believe this is the most effective way to deploy AI tools and to amplify the expertise of our own scientific teams. We’re using these models to design novel payload ideas, but also predict ADME properties most appropriate for ADC payloads, prioritising ideas for synthesis and evaluation. Equally, we can apply these tools in the pursuit of better ADC payloads, helping with idea generation and compound triage to optimise parameters such as potency, permeability, efflux and lowering systemic exposure through increased metabolic clearance.What emerging trends, challenges & new scientific methodologies are shaping up the ADCs space currently?We feel we’re on the cusp of a revolution in the ADC space. Payload-focussed ADC discovery is becoming more common, with highly targeted therapeutics slowly replacing the more overtly cytotoxic payloads of old. But this is only the beginning of this new renaissance in ADC research. We’re really excited by the potential of delivery vectors beyond antibodies, such as CNS-targeting peptides and other biomolecules as the targeting vector. And the promise of dual-payload ADCs – be they formed from dually functionalised linkers or from two separate linker/payload architectures, conjugated to different antibody residues. This yields the enticing possibility of combination therapies for disease using a single ADC moiety, with some element of control over the relative drug stoichiometries – the possibilities here are enticing! And the ADC field is now systematically rethinking how we can “rescue” small molecule drugs with poor PK properties or intolerable on-target mechanistic toxicity and turn these into viable therapeutics. We call these “fallen angel” payloads, and we can now start to think differently about how we can rescue that investment in compounds with real therapeutic promise, but which fell short of becoming single agent small molecule therapeutics. We can extend this further, into larger molecular weight payloads, such as heterobifunctional degraders, and protein-protein interaction inhibitors, overcoming some of the challenges in the delivery of those agents. But we’re also excited about the transition of ADCs into therapeutic spaces beyond oncology, finally tapping into the potential of ADC therapies for other patient populations. These were the key themes we delved into in the panel discussion we chaired at World ADC – it was great to see the level of interest from the attendees and it was standing room only for the duration of the session, which suggests the rest of the community are equally excited. Dr Manbeena [email protected]
TRENDS 37BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comMomentum in Motion: What Will Shape APAC’s Life Sciences Landscape in 2026?Asia-Pacific’s life sciences sector is growing rapidly, driven by its scale, diversity and resilience. Accelerating demographic change and strong investment in innovation position the region to outpace global growth and shape the future of healthcare.Asia-Pacific’s life sciences landscape has always been shaped by contrasts. It is a region where scale and sophistication coexist, where some of the world’s most advanced healthcare systems sit beside markets still building foundational infrastructure, and where global supply chains operate alongside emerging innovation clusters. These contrasts are not weaknesses; they are the very engine of the region’s dynamism. Asia-Pacific has demonstrated a capacity to grow through every major disruption of the past decade, pandemics, shifting trade policies, inflationary cycles, and geopolitical rifts, because its growth is carried not by a single market or a singular capability but by a broad constellation of supply and demand forces working in tandem. The fundamentals underpinning this momentum are, in theory, the same forces driving growth in any region of the world: an aging population, rising chronic disease burden, expansion of the middle class, increasing affordability, stronger public and private investment in healthcare, and an intensifying policy focus on localisation and innovation. Yet these fundamentals are particularly pronounced in Asia-Pacific. Nowhere else are demographic and economic transitions occurring at this scale and speed, nor is any other region investing so aggressively in research capacity, workforce development, regulatory harmonisation, and industrial capability building. It is this combination of inherent scale and strategic intent that positions Asia-Pacific to outpace global growth over the next several years. According to Frost & Sullivan, the region’s life sciences market is projected to reach $300 to 350 billion in 2026, a milestone driven by an amalgamation of long-term structural shifts and short-term episodes of volatility that often accelerate transformation rather than hinder it. Across product development, operational strategy, and corporate decision-making, we at Frost & Sullivan expect «Khushbu Jain,Associate Director – Health & Life Science Growth Advisory,Frost & Sullivan several interconnected trends to shape the region’s growth trajectory through 2026. Aging in Place and theAcceleration of Healthcare at Home The first major trend is the deepening connection between aging in place and the broader evolution of healthcare at home. Asia-Pacific contains societies aging at different levels and velocities, Japan with nearly 30 per cent of its population above 65, Korea and Singapore entering advanced aging phases, and China approaching its own demographic pivot far earlier than once expected (Based on World Bank Data). Resultantly, rather than relying solely on hospital-centric care models, patients and caregivers are increasingly seeking solutions that bring diagnostics, monitoring, and even therapeutic support into the home environment. This transition is already well underway. Selftesting and at-home testing have grown sharply across the region, with India and Indonesia seeing some of the fastest increases in home-based diagnostic kit usage following the pandemic. Australia has become a leading hub for decentralised clinical trials, benefiting from strong ethics frameworks and streamlined approvals that allow patient data to be captured in home settings rather than hospitals. China’s digital health giants are integrating remote monitoring tools directly into chronic disease management platforms, enabling longitudinal datasets to be collected outside formal care facilities. By 2026, these models will become mainstream, inspiring pharmaceutical companies to design clinical trials and product life-cycle plans that anticipate greater home-based engagement, while diagnostic companies will invest more in molecular and POCT testing products.
38 TRENDS BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comManufacturing ProwessMeets the Industry 4.0 Imperative A second defining trend is the strengthening of Asia-Pacific’s manufacturing capabilities, supported by Industry 4.0 adoption and the region’s resilience in the face of trade volatility. Asia-Pacific has long been the global center of generics and API production, with China and India together accounting for a significant share of worldwide pharmaceutical exports. However, the region’s manufacturing story is evolving rapidly. Over the past 18 months, global discourse has been dominated by tariff adjustments, proposed US legislation such as the Biosecure Act, and a broader emphasis on supply chain security. While these policy waves have generated uncertainty for manufacturers, especially Chinese suppliers, they have not dampened growth. Instead, they have encouraged companies to rethink footprint strategies. Several multinationals are shifting portions of production from China to Singapore, South Korea, and India. Singapore’s biologics clusters, South Korea’s rapid expansion in contract biologics manufacturing, and India’s creation of bulk drug parks illustrate a region responding to external pressure with investment rather than retrenchment. Layered on top of this geographic recalibration is a major push toward smart manufacturing. Automation, digital twins, predictive maintenance, in-line data capture, and real-time quality analytics are becoming standard expectations in new facilities. South Korea and Singapore have taken clear leads, while India and China are modernising existing capacity at speed. By 2026, this digitalisation of manufacturing will be a fundamental competitive differentiator, allowing Asia Pacific facilities to meet global quality expectations, reduce cost-to-serve, and support the production of complex, next-generation therapies sustainably.Taking the Innovation Lead in New Modalities Asia-Pacific’s momentum is not limited to manufacturing and market size; it increasingly extends into scientific innovation and product development. A third trend shaping 2026 is the region’s leadership in emerging modalities such as cell and gene therapies, antibody–drug conjugates, mRNA platforms, and advanced biologics. China remains the most striking example. It has assembled one of the world’s densest pipelines in cell therapy, with several hundred active CAR-T and gene editing trials. Some domestic companies have achieved global visibility, while numerous earlystage biotechs are pushing into ADC and bispecific antibody research. Japan continues to strengthen its leadership in regenerative medicine, supported by a regulatory framework designed to accelerate approvals for advanced therapies. Singapore is investing in dedicated innovation hubs that link academia, venture investors, and global biopharmaceutical companies, creating a high-quality environment for translational research and advanced therapy development. This surge in new modality research has a cascading effect across the ecosystem. Clinical trial industries benefit from increased demand for specialized studies. CDMOs move into high-value and more profitable segments, such as high-potency and biologics capacity. Local emerging biotechs gain access to capital and global commercial markets. Data as a New Strategic Asset The fourth major trend is the growing economic and scientific value of data. Asia-Pacific has become one of the world’s richest sources of clinical, genomic, and longitudinal health data, thanks to its large and diverse population pool. Countries such as Singapore and South Korea have invested in national-level databases that integrate genetics, lifestyle data, and healthcare records. India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is expanding one of the largest digital health infrastructures in the world. China’s platforms generate enormous datasets from chronic disease management and telehealth utilization. As companies deepen their efforts in precision medicine, digital therapeutics, and real-world evidence generation, these datasets will become strategic assets. They support the entire gamut of new product discovery and development, clinical research, population health management, personalised medicine, operational efficiency, and create possibilities for new revenue streams through anonymised, aggregated data products. The focus in 2026 is expected to be on building advanced platforms that can collect and analyse data while navigating data privacy regulations and harmonising governance across diverse markets to integrate APAC data into global strategies in ways that were not possible a decade ago. A Region Moving fromMomentum to InfluenceAt Frost & Sullivan, we remain optimistic that the region will continue to post among the highest global growth rates across life sciences segments and expect several unicorns to gain international relevance over the next 2-3 years. With its ongoing trajectory, the region will sharply increase its influence on global healthcare’s future.
CANCER CARE 39BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comHow Precision Medicine Is Reshaping Cancer CareDespite major advances in cancer detection and treatment, high recurrence rates and progression to advanced disease continue to challenge outcomes across Asia—making precision medicine a critical catalyst for shifting cancer care from disease management toward treat-to-cure. By leveraging molecular insights, biomarker testing and collaborative healthcare ecosystems, precision medicine offers the potential to deliver more effective, personalised and sustainable cancer care for patients across the region.Significant strides have been made in the detection and treatment of cancer in the last two decades. However, while survival outcomes have improved, curative treatments are mainly limited to early-stage disease, driven largely by screening programmes that enable earlier diagnosis. Even among patients treated with curative intent, recurrence remains a major challenge. Depending on cancer type and stage, recurrence rates have been reported to range from approximately 8.5 per cent to as high as 85 per cent. Many patients eventually progress to advanced or metastatic disease, necessitating a transition from curative treatment to disease control and symptom management. This places a growing burden not only on patients and caregivers, but also on healthcare systems across Asia. A catalyst for change Precision medicine offers distinct advantages for patients in Asia, whose genetic, ethnic and environmental diversity differs from Western populations.Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, it recognises each patient’s unique genetic, biological, environmental and lifestyle characteristics and uses this understanding to tailor diagnosis, monitoring and treatment plans. Advances in biomarker testing, genomic profiling, and molecular diagnostics now allow clinicians to better understand tumour biology and select therapies that are more likely to be effective for individual patients. Physicians are able to rely on data, not just protocols, when prescribing treatments, enabling them to personalise care, while offering patients more options. When patients and physicians have access to molecular information, treatment decisions become shared, data-driven discussions. This helps reduce unnecessary treatment burden, preserves dignity, and promotes confidence in the «Lim Yee Pin,General Manager, Malaysia and Indonesia, Johnson & Johnsonpatient, caregiver and medical team in a period typically defined by uncertainty.The advances in precision medicine are particularly important in cancers with high heterogeneity, such as lung cancer and multiple myeloma, where targeted and immune-based approaches are increasingly redefining long-term outcomes. Johnson & Johnson supports advanced biomarker testing and companion diagnostics, which can help identify disease subtypes, genetic mutations or biological markers that can help determine whether one therapy is more likely to benefit a patient over another. These include next-generation sequencing (NGS) and non-invasive methods such as liquid biopsy, which can detect genetic changes or tumour-derived DNA from a simple blood sample. Moving towards treat-to-cureIf pharmaceutical companies want precision medicine to translate into meaningful outcomes for patients, we must go beyond innovation and collaborate with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. At Johnson & Johnson, our overall goal in oncology is not only to bring new, high-quality therapies to market but also to ensure that patients can access them through collaboration, data-driven advocacy and shared commitment with our partners in the healthcare ecosystem. Partnerships between drug manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and policymakers are essential to ensuring that innovation is accessible to patients. By making precision medicine more accessible and sustainable, various aspects of cancer management, from diagnostics to therapeutics, data and patient care can be integrated into the healthcare ecosystem, maximising real-world impact. This will ultimately accelerate the shift in the treatment paradigm, from managing progression to treat-to-cure.
Indian S&T Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Honours Life Sciences Stalwarts WithBioSpectrum India Excellence Awards 2025(Centre)- Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher & Managing Editor, BioSpectrum India & Asia and Managing Trustee, MMA Spectrum Foundation; Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Dr Renu Swarup,Former Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India; along with jury members and award winners on stage.40 BIOSPECTRUM INDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comThe Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, honoured the leading figures of the life sciences industry for their contributions and achievements for the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 during BioSpectrum India Excellence Awards 2025 event, organised by BioSpectrum India, an integrated B2B media platform for the bioscience industry, and MMA Spectrum Foundation, in New Delhi on December 5. The industry stalwarts received the awards from the Minister in presence of Dr Renu Swarup, Former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, who chaired the jury panel and Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher & Managing Editor, BioSpectrum India & Asia and Managing Trustee, MMA Spectrum Foundation, under two categories – Jury Awards and Special Recognition Awards. BioSpectrum India, in consultation with a six-member jury panel comprising of Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC); Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance; Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research; Dr Shirshendu Mukherjee, Managing Director, Wadhwani Innovation Network; and Prof. Vijay Chandru, Founder and Chairperson, Strand Life Sciences and headed by Dr Renu Swarup selected Jury awards under different categories such as Lifetime Achievement Award, Businessperson of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Product of the Year, Best Performing State of the Year and Woman Scientist of the Year (Jury Special Award) for the year 2023-24 and 2024-25. The winners for the Special Recognition Awards were selected after reviewing numerous nominations, to turn the spotlight onto companies we believe will lead the way in the near future, not only in India but globally.
BIOSPECTRUM INDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025 41BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com Top Diagnostics Leader: Roche Diagnostics India Excellence in Diagnostics: Vanguard Diagnostics Outstanding Contribution to Biotech Ecosystem: Serum Institute of India Excellence in BioServices: Vipragen Biosciences Best Vaccine Efforts of the Year: TechInvention Lifecare Excellence in Lab Consumables: Abdos Life Sciences Top Emerging Biotech Company: PharmNXT Biotech Top Emerging MedTech Company: Sebia Diagnostics India Global Expansion Excellence in MedTech: Poly Winners of the Special Recognition Awards 2025Medicure Excellence in Cancer Diagnostics and Biomarker Innovation: OncoStem Diagnostics Excellence in Global Health Innovation: Foundation for Neglected Disease Research Top Digital Health Company: Plus91 Technologies Special Recognition in Cell & Gene Therapy: Miltenyi Biotec Leading Translational Biotech Organisation: HiMedia Laboratories Excellence in Industrial Microbiology:Biomerieux India Distinguished BioSupplier Partner: HiMedia LaboratoriesJury Award Winners 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement Award:Dilip Shanghvi, Founder and Executive Chairman, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Businessperson of the Year (Big Company):Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director,Zydus Lifesciences Businessperson of the Year (Medium Company): Sriram Natarajan,CEO, Molbio Diagnostics Entrepreneur of the Year: Hitesh Goswami & Kshitij Rishi, Co-Founders, 4baseCare Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Dr Ria Khurana, Co-Founder, RNT Health Insights Product of the Year: Miqnaf (Nafithromycin)by Wockhardt Jury Special Award for Woman Scientist of the Year: Dr Radha Rangarajan, Director,CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute Best Performing State of the Year:Telangana and KarnatakaMMA Spectrum FoundationLaunches Initiative to SupportStartups and Young InnovatorsThe MMA Spectrum Foundation, an initiative of the MM Activ Group, has announced its commitment to encouraging startups by providing structured support to young innovators with entrepreneurial vision. The Foundation recently organized the BioSpectrum Excellence Awards, a biannual event recognizing outstanding achievements in India’s life sciences & biotechnology ecosystem.Speaking at the awards ceremony, Ravindra Boratkar, Publisher and Managing Editor of BioSpectrum India & Asia and Managing Trustee of the MMA Spectrum Foundation, said the Foundation will focus on strengthening the innovation and startup ecosystem across life sciences and biosciences, nutrition and food processing, and agriculture and allied sectors.The Foundation will work in two key areas. Its startup-focused initiatives will include mentoring, capacity building, development of entrepreneurial skills, facilitating engagement between startups and venture capitalists, and fostering stronger academia–industry collaborations.In addition, leveraging its media expertise, the Foundation will undertake research projects and publish reports, surveys, books, and monographs. It will also organize workshops, seminars, conferences, and industry events, including award ceremonies, aimed at promoting knowledge sharing and ecosystem development. Through these awards, BioSpectrum India is playing the role of picking tomorrow's winners, nudging today's entrepreneurs to achieve greater glory and honouring yesterday's key players who laid the foundation for success.Dilip Shanghvi, Founder and Executive Chairman, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries who was awarded with BioSpectrum Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 in his acceptance speech (in a prerecorded message) said, “I am truly honoured to receive this recognition and award today. I accept it on behalf of the entire Sun Pharmaceutical team,
42 BIOSPECTRUM INDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comBiotechnology to Drive Next Industrial Revolution: Dr Jitendra Singh“Biotechnology will play a defining role in shaping the next industrial revolution and will be a key driver of global and Indian economic growth”, said Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.Addressing a gathering of scientists, industry leaders, award winners and members of the biotechnology fraternity at an awards and recognition event organised by BioSpectrum India, the Minister said that science, innovation and biotechnology are now integral to the global economic journey. “The next industrial revolution is likely to be biotech-driven, just as the previous one was driven by information technology,” Dr Singh said, adding that the work being done by India’s biotechnology community deserves not only recognition but celebration.Commending BioSpectrum India for its role in science journalism and communication, Dr Singh said that communicating science in a language people understand is crucial, especially at a time when India is witnessing rapid scientific and technological advancement. He described biotechnology-focused science communication as a bold initiative that will inspire similar efforts in the country. Highlighting India’s demographic advantage, the Minister noted that over 70 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 40. He stressed the responsibility of senior scientists and policymakers to identify, mentor and nurture young talent to ensure sustained growth and innovation in the sector.Dr Singh also spoke about the government’s support for biotechnology under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said India was among the first countries to formulate a dedicated and comprehensive biotechnology policy, describing it as a future-ready initiative that has enhanced India’s global standing. Referring to India’s vaccine success, Dr Singh said the country’s achievements in vaccine development and manufacturing have transformed global perceptions of India. “The vaccine story has positioned India as a trusted global partner and solution provider,” he said, while congratulating awardees who were recognised for their contributions in this area. who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty. Their commitment and hard work have enabled our company to continue growing faster than the industry.”He further said, “The Indian pharmaceutical industry has, for many years, continued to excel and has increasingly become an important pillar of the global pharma landscape. Today, India is proudly regarded as the ‘pharmacy of the world’. I am happy that Sun Pharmaceutical has played a meaningful role in this journey. Looking ahead, I envision a future where Indian companies — and India as a nation — not only contribute to the global generics market, but also emerge as leaders in innovation, bringing new and transformative treatments to patients worldwide.”Dr Jitendra Singh began by congratulating BioSpectrum on completing 23 years and applauding its role in highlighting achievements across India’s biotech ecosystem. He expressed his appreciation for the BioSpectrum Awards, noting that such recognition plays an important role in celebrating the country’s scientific and technological progress. The Minister shared updates on key government initiatives, including the upcoming Smart Tech India programme and the Department of Biotechnology’s increasing focus on stress biology—a field that is expanding significantly. He emphasised that the ecosystem in India is now better prepared than ever for scientific growth, reflecting a stronger foundation and more supportive policies. He also referenced the newly introduced Bio-E3 Policy, designed to boost India’s bioeconomy and strengthen the nation's standing in global biotechnology. Concluding his remarks, he commended the award winners. Sharing her views as the chairperson of the Jury Panel Dr Renu Swarup said, “The entire selection process was extremely robust, with the BioSpectrum team conducting extensive research to identify nominees before presenting them to the jury. The most satisfying moment for the jury is when we receive strong, high-quality nominations — and this year, the nominations were exceptionally rich in contribution. All jury members would agree that it took considerable deliberation to finalise the awardees because the level of competition was so high. This reflects both the strength of the biotechnology sector and the diligence of the evaluation process. During our discussions, the jury also emphasised the importance of recognising young talent in the future, as nurturing this pipeline is essential for sustaining leadership in the
BIOSPECTRUM INDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025 43BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comJury Award Winners 2023-24 Businessperson of the Year:Dr Vedam Ramprasad, CEO, MedGenome Entrepreneur of the Year: Ajit Patil &Amit Kharat, Co-Founders, DeepTek.ai Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Dr Latha Poonamallee, Co-Founder, In-Med Prognostics Product of the Year: Havisure Vaccine by Indian Immunologicals Jury Special Award for Woman Scientist of the Year: Prof Gaiti Hasan, Distinguished Fellow, National Centre for Biological Sciences Jury Special Award for WomanScientist in Clinical Research of the Year:Prof. Shinjini Bhatnagar,ICMR–Dr. C. G. Pandit National ChairBioSpectrum Excellence Awards Highlight Strength and Future ofIndia’s Biotechnology SectorFormer Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, Dr Renu Swarup, underscored the importance of recognising excellence across the biotechnology ecosystem while chairing the jury at the BioSpectrum Excellence Awards.Addressing the gathering, Dr Renu Swarup commended the BioSpectrum team for conducting a rigorous and researchdriven selection process. She noted that the jury received exceptionally strong nominations this year, making the final selection both challenging and rewarding. “The richness and depth of the nominations reflected the high level of contribution being made across the biotechnology sector,” she said, congratulating all awardees for being selected through a robust and competitive evaluation process.She highlighted the uniqueness of the BioSpectrum Awards for covering the entire spectrum of biotechnology growth, including research, startups, products, technology development, business leadership, and high-performing states. She said this holistic approach mirrors the evolving and interconnected nature of India’s biotech ecosystem.Acknowledging the role of government leadership, Dr Renu Swarup credited the Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh for driving the rapid growth of biotechnology in the country. She emphasised that awards which recognise and motivate excellence are critical for sustaining innovation and maintaining momentum in a fast-growing sector.She also welcomed the recognition of states at the awards, noting that beyond innovators and entrepreneurs, enablers such as supportive policies, skilled human resources, and strong infrastructure play a vital role in building a thriving biotechnology ecosystem.“The BioSpectrum Excellence Awards continue to serve as a platform to honour outstanding contributions and inspire sustained growth across India’s biotechnology landscape,” she concluded. biotechnology ecosystem.”Earlier welcoming the august gathering including Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, Ravindra Boratkar, said “Today, we come together to honour the pioneers, the visionaries, the risk-takers, and the path-breakers who are shaping the future of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and research. Your work not only strengthens India’s scientific capabilities but also touches millions of lives across the world. The BioSpectrum Excellence Awards represent the highest recognition in this journey, celebrating commitment to innovation, ethical leadership, and societal impact.”On the theme “Transforming India into a life sciences powerhouse: Journey Ahead into 2047!”, distinguished panellists including Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC); Priya G Hingorani, Managing Director of Miltenyi Biotec India; Dr Vishal Warke, Director Research & Development (Microbiology), HiMedia Laboratories; and Dr Arjun Dang, CEO & Partner, Dr Dangs Lab, shared their views with the moderator Dr Manbeena Chawla, Executive Editor, BioSpectrum India & Asia during a panel discussion. Telecasted by CNBC, this glittering show was supported by HiMedia Laboratories, Lonza, Eppendorf, Biomerieux, Dräger, Medidata, Duoning Biotech. Dr Milind Kokje, Executive Trustee, MMA Spectrum Foundation proposed vote of thanks.
Nona Biosciences appoints Dr Hongjiang Miao as Chief AI OfficerNona Biosciences, a global biotechnology company providing integrated solutions for biological drug discovery and development from Idea to IND, has announced the appointment of Dr Hongjiang Miao as Chief AI Officer. Dr Miao will be based in Shanghai and report directly to Dr Di Hong, Chief Executive Officer of Nona Biosciences. In this role, Dr Miao will lead the Nona AI team to advance the Company's A3 (Antibody engineering × AI × Automation) strategy and further transform Nona into an AI-driven drug discovery company. He will be responsible for developing Nona's AI strategy, spearheading the deep integration of AI technologies into core processes, consolidating data resources, algorithmic models, and experimental/business workflows, establishing an AI R&D platform, and enhancing platform stability and iterative upgrades. Dr Miao brings extensive experience in AI and biocomputing, with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering impactful AI technologies.India-based Thyrocare Technologies has appointed Dr Ramesh Kinha as its Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening its leadership team as the company continues to scale its operations across India. Dr Kinha is a seasoned healthcare and diagnostics leader with over 17 years of experience across leading organisations in the diagnostics sector, with deep expertise in laboratory operations and quality systems. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing lab operations and strengthening quality standards across Thyrocare’s network, with a clear focus on consistently raising the bar on diagnostic accuracy and service delivery. Prior to joining Thyrocare, Dr Kinha served as Group Director – Laboratory Services at Vijaya Diagnostic Centre Limited, where he led critical operational and quality initiatives. His extensive career includes senior leadership roles at Apollo Health & Lifestyle, Medall Healthcare, Metropolis Healthcare, and SRL, where he has delivered operational excellence and driven strategic transformation. A medical professional with strong academic credentials, Dr Kinha holds an MBBS degree and an MD in Pathology.Thyrocare announces appointment ofDr Ramesh Kinha as Chief Operating OfficerKyowa Kirin names Dr Abdul Mullick as President and CEO44 PEOPLE NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comKyowa Kirin, a Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company, has announced the Board of Directors’ decision to appoint Abdul Mullick, PhD, currently President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment will become effective March 2026 following the conclusion of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. As Dr Mullick takes on the role of President and CEO for Kyowa Kirin, current CEO Masashi Miyamoto, PhD, remains Chairman. In his new role as CEO, Dr Mullick will focus on driving execution of the company’s Vision for 2030 in the focus disease areas of Bone/Mineral, Intractable Haematological Diseases/HaematoOncology and Rare Diseases. Dr Mullick joined Kyowa Kirin in 2017 and served as President of the Europe / Middle East / Africa region, based in Marlow, United Kingdom, before relocating to Japan in 2023 to lead the business outside of Japan. He was nominated as COO in October 2024 and confirmed in the role in March 2025.
Pharma logistics company DHL Express has made two key leadership appointments in Asia Pacific- Chee Choong Ng as Senior Vice President of Human Resources (HR) for Asia Pacific, and Samuel Lee as Managing Director for Taiwan. These appointments take effect on January 1, 2026, for DHL to strengthening its people strategy and accelerating growth in one of the region's most dynamic markets. Previously the Managing Director for Taiwan, Chee Choong, takes over the Asia Pacific region's HR portfolio from Mateen Thiruselvaam, who has retired after many years of dedication at DHL Express. Chee Choong brings over two decades of experience within DHL Group and the logistics industry. Following Chee Choong's move, Samuel Lee will take over the role of Managing Director for DHL Express in Taiwan. He has been a seasoned DHL Express leader since 1998. He has an impressive career spanning Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, where he played a key role in building and expanding DHL's strategic hubs in those territories.DHL Express enhances Asia Pacificleadership team with strategic appointmentsCartherics namesDr Ian Nisbet as CEOAustralia-based Cartherics, a biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf immune cell therapies focusing on high-impact women’s diseases, with lead programmes in ovarian cancer and endometriosis, has announced the appointment of Dr Ian Nisbet as Chief Executive Officer, as part of a planned leadership transition. Prof. Alan Trounson AO will transition to the role of Deputy Chair of the Board, where he will continue to provide his expertise to support the company’s strategic direction. Dr Nisbet is a co-founder of Cartherics and was previously Chief Operating Officer of the company for the past six years. He is an accomplished senior leader in the biotechnology industry, with over 40 years of experience in product development, business development and project management at executive and board levels, in both Australia and the US. Dr Nisbet also serves as a director or advisor to several Australian and US biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Cartherics, Dr Nisbet was a principal for the consulting company, Afandin. Neurophet ropes inJosh Cohen as Headof Americas BusinessSouth Korea-based Neurophet, an artificial intelligence (AI) solution company for brain disorders diagnosis and treatment, has appointed Josh Cohen, a veteran executive from leading global medical device companies, as new Head of Americas Business. Cohen brings over a decade of expertise in sales and commercialisation strategy within the medical AI sector. He has honed his skills through leadership roles in global sales and marketing at top-tier medical device companies, including Philips, one of the world's leading medical imaging manufacturers, as well as Cortechs.ai, Shared Imaging, and most recently has worked as the acting Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) with MRI AI-based technology companies to launch and scale in the US and abroad. Cohen previously served as CCO at Cortechs.ai, one of Neurophet's global rivals, where he spearheaded the growth of key AIdriven brain imaging analysis products and led the company's expansion across international markets. Cortechs.ai specialises in AI-based medical imaging analysis software and directly competes with Neurophet in the Americas region.PEOPLE NEWS 45BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comChee Choong Ng Samuel Lee
Advanced brain imaging reveals promiseof new drug for Parkinson’s disease46 R&D NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comAustralia’s University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have developed a promising new anti-inflammatory drug and, for the first time, used advanced imaging to watch its effects unfold inside the living brain, a breakthrough that could accelerate treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences said testing in mice models showed the new-generation oral drug blocked inflammation in the brain and helped improve motor function. The study showed that the drug, which targets part of the immune system called ‘inflammasomes’, reduced brain inflammation and prevented the disease from killing more neurons, therefore stopping its progression. The drug used in the study was developed by Inflazome, a company spun out of UQ and Trinity College Dublin Trinity. Inflazome was established in 2016 through UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest, which managed the resulting intellectual property (IP). The company was later acquired by Roche in a landmark deal involving an upfront cash payment of approximately AUD $617 million.The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) has announced the official launch of the world’s first AI-Powered Multikingdom Microbial Biomarkers Technology (MSX Metagenie), in collaboration with MicroSigX Biotech Diagnostic Limited, a CUHK spin-off. This innovative technology detects risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, enabling early intervention and support for at-risk families. In July 2024, the technology received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), underscoring its global leadership in the early identification of ASD. A pilot project will offer free testing for 200 eligible children. The test has shown a more than 95 per cent negative predictive value, effectively ruling out autism. This provides reliable information to help exclude low-risk cases, enabling better allocation of medical and social resources to high-risk groups while alleviating parental concerns. Hong Kong develops breakthroughtest aiding early autism diagnosisJapan designs innovative diagnostic technologyusing machine learningScientists at Japan’s University of Tokyo have developed an innovative diagnostic technology that analyses the full drying process of a blood droplet using machine learning. The process could transform medical and biological screening, allowing rapid analysis of blood and other biological fluids using only a single droplet and simple microscopic imaging, and bring cost-efficient, powerful diagnostics within reach to underserved communities and developing countries. This technique does not require specialised equipment to make an accurate diagnosis. Images of drying blood samples are acquired using brightfield microscopy (transmitting white light through a specimen, which makes it appear dark against a bright background) and a common 4x objective lens, which magnifies samples four times. Images are acquired over time with a digital camera mounted on the microscope. The same workflow can also be used to analyse other bodily fluids, including saliva and urine, expanding the diagnostic capacity of the workflow without the need for additional equipment. The current research establishes proof of concept for the team, demonstrating an effective workflow for detecting diseases such as diabetes, influenza, malaria and others, that has potential in the field.
Researchers at Mohali-based Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, have consolidated nanotechnology, molecular biology and computational modelling to develop a multifaceted therapy for Alzheimer's disease. This treatment involves integrating epigallocacachin-3-gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in green tea, dopamine (which is an important neurotransmitter for mood), and tryptophan (an amino acid involved in many cellular functions), into nanoparticles called EGCG-dopamine-tryptophan nanoparticles (EDTNP). This enables this treatment to simultaneously target amyloid aggregation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal degeneration, which are the four major pathological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The incorporation of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein important for the survival, development, and function of neurons, into the EDTNP (B-EDTNP) creates a dual-functional nanoplatform that not only clears neurotoxic amyloid beta aggregates (clumps of proteins that disrupt nerve function and increase the pathology of Alzheimer's disease) but also enhances neuronal regeneration.India creates new method for better and comprehensive treatment of Alzheimer's disease A research team at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has successfully developed a nasal (intranasal) antiviral platform using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to overcome the existing limitations of interferonlambda treatments, namely, being weak against heat and disappearing quickly from the nasal mucosa. Researchers have used AI to stably redesign the interferonlambda protein and combined it with a delivery technology that ensures effective diffusion and long-term retention in the nasal mucosa, thereby implementing a universal prevention technology for various respiratory viruses. This technology is a mucosal immune platform that can block viral infections in their early stages simply by spraying it into the nose. It is expected to be a new therapeutic strategy that can respond quickly not only to seasonal flu but also to unexpected new or mutant viruses.Korea buildsAI-engineered nasal spray antiviral platformScientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and their international collaborators have developed a new computational tool that maps how gene pathways interact in complex biological systems. Using this novel algorithm, the team discovered a previously unknown protein pathway that, when blocked, triggers the death of blood cancer cells. The discovery could pave the way for new therapies and drugs that could reduce disease severity and improve survival rates in patients with aggressive acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This new approach revealed an unexpected connection between energy metabolism and DNA building blocks in leukaemia. The team discovered that a protein complex, Complex II, allows cancer cells to multiply by producing purines, essential building blocks of the cells’ DNA and RNA. The research also demonstrates that higher Complex II levels are linked to increased treatment resistance and poorer patient survival, which may potentially make them useful biomarkers in patient screening and treatment plans.New tool by Singapore reveals hidden metabolic weakness in blood cancersR&D NEWS 47BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Pixelgen Technologies further expands Asia presenceRepligen introduces next-generation chromatography resinsRepligen Corporation, a life sciences company focused on bioprocessing technology leadership, has announced the launch of three new high-performance chromatography resins: AVIPure HiPer AAV9 and AVIPure HiPer AAV8 affinity resins, along with HiPer QA anion exchange resin, expanding the company’s growing proteins portfolio and reinforcing its commitment to innovation in next-generation bioprocessing. Built on the Tantti DuloCore base bead technology, the new convective HiPer resins deliver the differentiated performance required for new modalities, including viral vectors. These solutions are engineered to help gene therapy developers accelerate product development, improve molecule stability, and enhance process economics, ultimately enabling faster, more reliable paths to market. Since gene therapy manufacturers need scalable, high-performance solutions, these latest AAV8 and AAV9 resins, along with HiPer QA anion-exchange resin, are designed to deliver significantly faster processing and robust performance across today’s increasingly complex biotherapeutic workflows. Cytiva, a Danaher company and leader in the life sciences industry, and Fida Biosystems, a Danish company specialising in molecular analysis, have joined forces to expand analytical capabilities for protein research. The collaboration combines Cytiva’s Biacore surface plasmon resonance (SPR) systems with Fidabio’s in-solution Flow-Induced Dispersion Analysis (FIDA) technology, providing both a complementary and an orthogonal approach that gives scientists a more complete picture of molecular interactions. By linking structural details—such as protein size and stability—with precise binding and interaction data, researchers can make faster, more confident decisions earlier in development. Fidabio’s technology provides both complimentary and orthogonal data to the Biacore SPR system’s data, providing critical information on the quality of the sample. By combining two methods, researchers can link structural information, such as protein size and stability, with detailed binding and interaction data.Cytiva and Fida Biosystems collaborate to improve molecular insight for faster drug discovery48 SUPPLIER NEWSBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comPixelgen Technologies, Inc. and MDxK (Molecular Diagnostics Korea) Inc., part of DKSH Business Unit Technology, a leader in market expansion services, have announced a distribution agreement to bring Pixelgen's Proxiome Kit to life sciences researchers in South Korea. The agreement further expands Pixelgen's growth in the Asia-Pacific region, following distribution agreements in Japan and Australia. Earlier this year, Pixelgen launched its Pixelgen Proxiome Kit, the first product to analyse the spatial location of cell surface protein markers, providing protein clustering, colocalisation, and abundance data at an unprecedented scale. The kit helps researchers in fields such as immunology, haematology, and CAR-T and cancer research discover new biomarkers, better understand therapy mode of action, and assess single cell protein interactions. The Pixelgen Proxiome Kit, Immuno 155, uses the Proximity Network Assay, a DNA-based chemistry where each target and its neighbors in close proximity are assigned a unique spatial position across single cells at an average resolution of 50 nanometers. Its validated protein panel contains 155 immune cell surface protein targets to produce a detailed map of up to 50,000 proteins per cell, illuminating cell surface protein abundance, clustering, & colocalisation.
SUPPLIER NEWS 49BIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.comHanahealth by DSS Imagetech, the authorised partner of Sydney-based Genea Biomedx, has launched the advanced GERI Time-Lapse Incubator pan India. GERI, the nextgeneration Time Lapse embryo culture system from Genea Biomedx, is ideal for IVF clinics, labs adopting digital transformation, centres working toward accreditation, and research-focused fertility groups as it enables them to modernise their processes and improve IVF outcomes. GERI helps infertility experts to closely monitor embryo development at every crucial stage in a stable culture environment indirectly contributing to higher pregnancy rates. Each of the incubator’s six independent chambers has its own dedicated five-megapixel camera to provide detailed timelapse views of each embryo at very high resolution. The camera in each chamber can capture images of up to 11 focal planes of each embryo every five minutes. For embryologists seeking standardised, AI-supported objective grading, GERI reduces environmental fluctuations that harm embryos and helps them increase consistency and objectivity in embryo grading while enhancing their patient confidence through transparent communication.Hanahealth by DSS Imagetech launches GERI Time-Lapse Incubator in IndiaAgilent and Monash University Malaysia strengthen partnership with new BioDiscovery HubThermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has announced the launch of Gibco Bacto CD Supreme FPM Plus and Gibco Bacto CD Supreme Feed (2X), two next-generation chemically-defined formulations that expand the Gibco Bacto CD portfolio to enhance and simplify plasmid DNA and recombinant protein production using Escherichia coli (E. coli). As demand for plasmid DNA continues to surge to support expanding gene therapy and mRNA vaccine pipelines, scalable microbial production platforms have become mission-critical. Biomanufacturers developing these therapies face growing pressure to increase yields while maintaining consistency at scale. The new Gibco Bacto CD Supreme FPM Plus and Feed (2X) address these needs by simplifying E. coli bioprocessing workflows and delivering predictable, high-quality results. Engineered to deliver higher productivity, consistent performance, and flexible scalability, the new fermentation media and feed system enable biomanufacturers and CDMOs to accelerate development timelines while reducing process variability and regulatory complexity. Together, these formulations support faster plasmid DNA and protein production while maintaining consistent quality and reproducibility from early development through commercial manufacturing.Thermo Fisher Scientific expands Gibco Bacto portfolioAgilent Technologies Inc. has announced the expansion of their strategic collaboration with Monash University in Malaysia to establish a state-of-the-art MUMPMP-Agilent BioDiscovery Hub aimed at accelerating regional biotechnology research and innovation. The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed as part of the celebration of their 15-year strategic partnership, underscoring Agilent's continued commitment to advancing high-impact R&D capabilities in fast-growing Asian markets. Under the renewed agreement, Agilent will place its high-resolution Revident Quadrupole Time of Flight LC/MS systems, coupled with 1290 Infinity III High-Performing LC series, and the next-generation 5977C Gas Chromatography/MSD, at the new hub to support mutually agreed research programmes, applications development, workshops, and scientific training.
India’s Final Mile to TB EliminationAs the target year 2025 draws to a close, the Government of India has intensified and consolidated nationwide efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) through the TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, implemented under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). India’s decision to advance the TB elimination timeline ahead of global targets has driven sustained reforms across detection, treatment, prevention, nutrition support, and community engagement.India’s progress assumes particular significance in the global TB context. In 2024, the largest share of new TB cases occurred in the WHO South-East Asia Region (34 per cent), followed by the Western Pacific Region (27 per cent) and the African Region (25 per cent). Around 87 per cent of new TB cases globally were concentrated in the 30 high TB burden countries. India accounted for 25 per cent of the global TB burden, followed by Indonesia (10 per cent), the Philippines (6.8 per cent), China (6.5 per cent), Pakistan (6.3 per cent), Nigeria (4.8 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3.9 per cent) and Bangladesh (3.6 per cent). The top five countries together accounted for 55 per cent of the global total, underlining the importance of India’s TB response for global TB elimination efforts.Against this backdrop, India has achieved substantial epidemiological gains. As per the WHO Global TB Report 2025, TB incidence in India declined by 21 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024, nearly double the global average rate of decline. TB mortality declined from 28 to 21 per lakh population during the same period. Treatment coverage improved markedly, rising from 53 per cent in 2015 to 92 per cent in 2024, reflecting improved case detection and prompt initiation of treatment.A central pillar of India’s TB elimination strategy has been early diagnosis and expanded access to diagnostics. The Government of India significantly scaled up molecular testing through the deployment of NAAT and Truenat machines at block and subdistrict levels, complemented by AI-enabled handheld chest X-ray units for community-based screening. Diagnostic capacity was further strengthened through the expansion of microscopy centres and molecular laboratories, enabling early detection of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. TB services were decentralised to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, integrating screening, treatment, follow-up and preventive care within comprehensive primary healthcare. This decentralisation reduced diagnostic delays, improved treatment adherence, and ensured access for vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.The programme intensified active case-finding in high-burden and high-risk settings, including urban slums, tribal areas, prisons, shelters, and among populations such as people living with HIV, diabetics and the undernourished. Systematic outreach and house-to-house screening contributed to increased TB notifications and improved treatment outcomes.Recognising undernutrition as a major risk factor, the Government of India strengthened nutrition and patient support systems. Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, monthly direct benefit transfers were doubled to Rs 1,000 per month from November 2024. Since April 2018, Rs 4,322 crore has been disbursed to 1.35 crore TB patients. Complementing this, the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative mobilised community, institutional and CSR support, distributing 45.66 lakh food baskets to 20.3 lakh TB patients since 2022.The Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2022, institutionalised community participation by linking TB patients with Ni-kshay Mitras who provide nutritional, psychosocial and treatment adherence support. This initiative strengthened people-centred care and expanded ownership of TB elimination beyond the health system.India adopted a multisectoral, mission-mode approach, converging efforts across ministries, state governments, local self-governments, civil society and the private healthcare sector. Incentivised private sector engagement led to a significant rise in TB case notifications and improved reporting of treatment outcomes. To accelerate final-phase gains, the government launched a 100-day TB Elimination Campaign in December 2024 across 347 high-burden districts, focusing on intensive screening, zero diagnostic delay, immediate treatment initiation, preventive therapy for contacts, and strict monitoring.As 2025 concludes, India’s TB response stands as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive public health efforts. While sustained action remains essential, Government of India initiatives have significantly reduced the TB burden domestically and contributed meaningfully to global TB control efforts, laying a strong foundation for a TB-free India beyond 2025. Narayan [email protected] LET’S TALK HEALTHBIOSPECTRUM | JANUARY 2026 | www.biospectrumasia.com