When a cookie
cutter response
just won’t cut it
talk to the people with a focus
on flexibility, talk to Luina Bio.
When it comes to biomanufacturing GMP materials for Products:
use in clinical trials, many production facilities lack the • Recombinant proteins
flexibility needed to create bespoke solutions in a timely, • Live Biotherapeutics
scaled and cost effective manner. At Luina Bio we do • Bacterial vaccines
things a little differently. • Plasmid DNA
With over 20 years experience in the pharmaceutical, Services:
biotechnology and veterinary industries we know the more • Bacterial / Yeast Fermentation
we focus on each client’s specific needs and goals, the • Cell Banking
clearer their vision for the future will become. Looking for • Process Development/Scale-up
an early phase clinical biomanufacturing partner? • cGMP Manufacture of
Talk to Luina Bio to see how we can bring your drug to life.
biopharmaceutical APIs
Luina Bio: your vision is our focus. • Stability Testing
Contact: visit: luinabio.com.au | call: +61 (7) 3273 9176 | email: [email protected]
proven past.
new beginning.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences is now Cytiva.
Our trusted legacy of proven products relies on the talent of our people. A team
of people focused on helping you advance and accelerate the development,
manufacture, and delivery of transformative medicines for patients.
Find us at cytiva.com
Cytiva and the Drop logo are trademarks of Global Life Sciences IP Holdco LLC or an affiliate.
GE is a trademark of General Electric Company. All other third-party trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
© 2020 Cytiva.
CY12438-26Mar20-AD
4 BIO EDIT
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Milind Kokje Uncertainty continues
Chief Editor COVID-19 outbreak scene is changing every day, globally. Though numbers are
growing in some countries the overall picture appears to be little stable with
[email protected] lesser speed of spread. Unfortunately, the countries which showed complete
control over the situation initially again witnessed rise in number of cases. They had
to once again initiate the actions like circuit breakers. Singapore, for instance, did this
and it has now extended the circuit breaker till June 4.
There is some good news also from some other countries. Hong Kong said on
April 20 that it had reported no new cases for the first time in two months. South
Korea announced just a day before that it had eight additional cases. An important
news is from the place where COVID 19 originated. The lockdown of Wuhan was
lifted and even train services resumed.
But situation is not similar everywhere. USA and UK are still severely affected. In
India the number is growing and has crossed 30,000 mark. But according to Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) the pace of spread has slowed down though
the absolute number of cases is increasing. The duration of doubling the patients’
number is growing. Similarly, the rate of people getting cured is also good.
In all these countries the lockdowns are in different stages completing different
number of days. Depending upon the situations the governments have started
thinking of either giving some relaxations or imposing more restrictions. Although,
no doubt, that the governments will be very careful while announcing relaxations, the
people themselves will have to observe lot of discipline to avoid re-emergence of the
disease.
However, there are limits as to for how long such lockdown can be continued and
even if it is continued how to implement it effectively. Though it has been proved to
be effective to a certain extent to reduce the burden on hospitals, it cannot be a long-
term solution. The countries which are still affected will have to look at models which
have managed to control the outbreak.
South Korea’s example is constantly quoted. When it comes to the ratio of affected
people and deaths Germany is quoted often as it has managed to restrict deaths to less
percentage. In India itself, few states such as Kerala and Bhilwada district in Rajasthan
state have shown examples of controlling the outbreak. The still affected countries
will have to pick up suitable factors from these models for fast implementation.
Trials for seven vaccines are on at different stages. Trials for combinations of
existing medicines used for different diseases are also on. Plasma treatment is also
being tested. Some pharma companies claim to have reached very near to the solution
and may be even in two months medicines or vaccines will be available. Still, with no
vaccine or sure medicine in sight yet the serious concern still exists and gives rise to
uncertainty as to when this pandemic will end in different countries and in the world.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has come out with ‘data-
driven estimation of when will COVID-19 end in different countries. It has given two
predictions of by when will it end 97 per cent and by when 100 per cent. But it has also
pointed out that the predictions are expected to change with the changes in the real
world scenarios over time. This means that they are going by the changing numbers
and accordingly changing their predictions.
Till the vaccine or medicine is available, it appears that two things will continue to
be done on war footing- Increasing the number of testing and speeding up the efforts
to find vaccine and medicine to fight the disease.
The real lasting solution will have to be in finding a vaccine and/or medicine.
Whatever efforts are done even in an expediting way, still, it is going to take some
time. So, till then gearing up tests and increasing them to maximum level is the only
solution.
BIO MAIL 5
BIOSPECTRUM | |MAMRCAHY 2020 | |wwww.wbiwos.bpieocstpruecmtrausmiaa.csoiam.com
Acknowledgements
We are very glad for the coverage that Piscium Health Sciences has
ArecckenivoedwilneBdigoSepmecetrnutms. Thank you.
Thank you for covering the interaction with N- MovaolaNyoDrdiikskshiint,tIhnediFaebruary
edition. It has come out very well.
- Manisha Gupta, India
The piece titled ‘Can COVID-19 pandemic fast track digital
transformation?’ in the April issue is well written. It touches upon
Tahnainmkpyoorutansot tompuichonfothr efepaottuernintigaltfhoer dairgtitcalel te‘Hchenalotlhogsipeesntodiansgsishtas a natural
tebnudsiennecsysetsoapnrdomcoomtemsuunsittaiiensaibniltihtyisopfahnedaelmthicf.inance’, in the February edition.
Looks good. - Grace Ang, Singapore
- David Bloom, US
Thank you so much for covering the interaction with Luca Visini,
Managing Director, Eli Lilly and Company (India) in the April edition.
The article on personalized medicine looks n-iAcem. IbtuisjaclKeaarslyhynaopt ,aItnrdeniady topic
anymore, in fact much more than that.
- Anu Acharya, India
Vol 15; Issue 35; Maryc2h0220020 MM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd. Taiwan
Media Representative:
Publisher & Managing Editor: Singapore Ms Christine Wu
Ravindra Boratkar MM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd. Image Media Services Company
Saradha Mani 2F-2, No. 35, Sec. 2, Flushing South Road,
Editorial: General Manager Taipei 10665, Taiwan
Chief Editor: Milind Kokje #08-08, High Street Centre, Tel: +886-2-87734199
[email protected] 1 North Bridge Road, Singapore - 179094 Fax:+886-2-87734200
Tel: +65-63369142 / Fax:+65-63369145 Mobile: 886-937890533
Advisor - Content: Vijay Thombre Mobile: +65-90681202 E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected] website: www.imagemediatw.com
General Manager Content Creation
and Coordination: Narayan Kulkarni Asia Pacific & South East Asia China
[email protected] Ankit Kankar Erika Cheng
Manager- Product & RFCOMMS
Asst. Manager Content Creation Strategic Communications E101, East Lake Villas, 35 Dongzhimenwai
and Coordination- APAC Region: 156, Kaliandas Udyog Bhavan, Babasaheb Woralikar Main Street, Dongcheng District,
Hithaishi C. Bhaskar Marg, Near Century Bazaar, Beijing 100027, P. R. China
[email protected] Mumbai - 400 025 Mobile: +86 17375668063
Mobile: +91-9579069369 E-mail: [email protected]
Content Team: [email protected]
Dr Manbeena Chawla, Kalyani Sharma India
USA Alok Srivastava
Social Media Editor: Ankit Kankar BioSpectrum Bureau Business Head- Ad Sales &
[email protected] MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Marketing (India & APAC)
Mobile: +91-9579069369 ‘NITON, Block ‘C’, I Floor, No.11/6,
CFO & Special Correspondent: [email protected] Palace Road, Bangalore-560 052
Manasee Kurlekar Tel: +91-80-41131912/13
Europe Mobile: +91-9845128747
Production & Design: Mr. Stuart Smith [email protected]
MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications 6 Cobden Court, Wimpole Close,
Anil Walunj Bromley, Kent BR2 9JF Photo: Shutterstock
E-mail: [email protected]
Cover Design: E-mail: [email protected] Go Digital:
Dominix Strategic Design Pvt. Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)20 8464 5577 Mobile: 07973 814753 To request subscription
email: [email protected]
Business Enquiry:
Manasee Kurlekar
[email protected]
Subscription Services
Print Edition: Saradha Mani
[email protected]
Digital Edition: Ankit Kankar
[email protected]
Media Intern’s:
Apoorva Mahajan / Sarang Khele
Printed and published by Ravindra Boratkar Chief Editor: Milind Kokje
on behalf of MM ACTIV Singapore Pte Ltd.
MCI (P) 053/06/2019
Printed at Times Printers Private Limited Copyright: MM ACTIV Sci-Tech
16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340 Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Tel : +65-63112888
Reprinted in India for private Circulation
6 BIO CONTENT BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
COVER STORY 18
TsuAcIWceAsNs’Sstory
in combating
COVID-19
COVID-19 has unravelled the potency and the feebleness of most geographical region’s healthcare, technical,
social and political structure. While countries are anticipating various dimensions to tackle coronavirus and
combat the pandemic, Taiwan’s success in controlling COVID-19 has bolstered its global standing despite
the close geographical proximity with China. The resilient island aggregated its forces to tackle the virus and
circumstances rationally with well-established pandemic control strategies, bio medical assets, advanced
IoT capabilities, impeccable healthcare system and a well organised political force. Taiwan apparently
tussled the coronavirus incredibly well and is now keen to offer medical and technical assistance to other
countries in this global crisis.
BIO CONTENT 7
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com 38 COVID-19
25 COVID-19 India to play a crucial
role in the supply of
Is China ’s healthcare industry repurposed drugs globally
going to gain from COVID-19 crisis ?
Prashant Khadayate,
29 Practice Head of Healthcare,
GlobalData, India
VC turning towards biosciences startups
40 TECHNOLOGY
31 TECHNOLOGY
DataOps can provide a
The role of AI in cracking disease to treatment Data Cure for
healthcare organizations
33 SPEAKING WITH
Charlie Farah,
“Maintain clear Director, APAC Healthcare &
SOPs and have Public Sector, Qlik
an efficient workflow”
42 COVID-19
Prof.Chng Wee Joo,
Director, National University BioSpectrum webinar on
Cancer Institute, Singapore “Exploring various aspects of COVID-19”
34 “The biggest challenge that India is facing
now is the skewed ratio between
“We are increasing our population & limited resources”
inventory of select raw
materials to minimize REGULARS
supply disruption”
BioEdit.................................................................04
Stewart Campbell, BioMail.................................................................05
Vice President & General Manager, Policy and Regulatory News..............................08
Asia Pacific (APAC), Company News...................................................10
West Pharmaceutical Services, Singapore Finance News......................................................12
Start-up News.....................................................13
36 WHO News..........................................................15
World News.........................................................16
“Pursue ‘1-10-60 rule’ People News.......................................................45
to effectively combat R&D News............................................................46
sophisticated cyber-threats” Academic News..................................................48
Supplier News.....................................................49
Sherif El-Nabawi,
Vice President (Engineering, APJ),
CrowdStrike, Singapore
8 REGULATORY NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Japan works India sanctions Rs 15000 Cr for
COVID-19 response package
out extra
Government of India has the development of diagnostics
budget to announced significant and COVID-19 dedicated
investments to the tune of treatment facilities, centralized
fight pandemic Rs 15000 crore for ‘India procurement of essential
COVID-19 Emergency medical equipment and drugs
The government has Response and Health System required for treatment of
submitted to the Parliament Preparedness Package’. The infected patients, strengthen
a ¥25.69 trillion reworked funds sanctioned will be utilized and build resilient national and
supplementary budget to fund a for immediate COVID-19 state health systems to support
package of emergency measures Emergency Response (amount prevention and preparedness
aimed at mitigating the of Rs 7774 crore) and rest for for future disease outbreaks,
economic impacts of COVID-19. medium-term support (1-4 setting up of laboratories
The draft budget, approved years) to be provided under and bolster surveillance
by the Cabinet, was boosted mission mode approach. The activities, bio-security
from the original ¥16.81 trillion key objectives of the package preparedness, pandemic
due to a sudden policy shift include mounting emergency research and proactively engage
by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe response to slow and limit communities and conduct risk
to provide ¥100,000 to all COVID-19 in India through communication activities.
residents instead of a plan to
give ¥300,000 to households
whose income had fallen
sharply. The 2020 extra budget
includes ¥48.4 trillion in direct
fiscal spending, including by
local governments. It has been
drafted to partially fund an
overall economic package aimed
at tackling the pandemic that
has been scaled up to ¥117.1
trillion from ¥108.2 trillion.
Korea provides updates on COVID-19 medical devices
South Korea’s health authorities, to disclose information. The
MOHW (Ministry of Health and list includes the product names
Welfare under Minister Park and contact information of the
Neung-hoo), in partnership exporters, and will be regularly
with its affiliated institution updated in accordance with
KHIDI (Korea Health Industry further approval. The MOHW
Development Institute), have plans to introduce and promote
initiated to offer prompt online ways to utilize the website
updates on a list of Korean through the country’s overseas
manufacturers and exporters embassies and Korea Trade-
specializing in COVID-19 Investment Promotion Agency
diagnostics devices. The website (KOTRA) trade centers. Any
provides the list containing foreign buyers interested in
twenty-nine South Korean importing Korea’s COVID-19
companies which produce in vitro diagnostic devices can
and export COVID-19 In Vitro find relevant information on
Diagnostics Devices, excluding manufacturers and exporters by
companies which do not agree accessing the website.
REGULATORY NEWS 9
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Malaysia uses AI solution
to combat COVID-19
Malaysia Ministry of Health COVID-19 situation around the Australia
has joined hands with Huawei world, can analyze hundreds of approves
Malaysia to contribute Huawei CT images in seconds, precisely launch of
Cloud AI-assisted Diagnosis locating lesions, and doctors can Fulphila drug
solution to Sungai Buloh Hospital now provide diagnosis results in
to empower local medical just one minute. It can analyze The Therapeutic Goods
personnel with AI capabilities suspected contours of pneumonia Administration (TGA),
by providing an AI solution for from CT Chest DICOM images, the regulatory body for
CT image analysis of possible and provide the probability that therapeutic goods in
COVID-19 patients. The Huawei they represent COVID-19, to Australia, has approved
Cloud AI-assisted quantitative radiologist as a reference to help the launch of Fulphila,
medical image analysis system, them screen suspected cases and a biosimilar to Neulasta
which was used to help handle the make an appropriate diagnosis. (pegfilgrastim) in
Australia. The drug has
Thailand accelerates been approved for the
investments in medical sector treatment of cancer
patients following
The Board of Investment of of 50 percent of corporate income chemotherapy, to
Thailand (BOI) has approved a tax for an additional 3 years will decrease the duration
series of measures to mitigate be given to qualified investments of severe neutropenia
the impact of the coronavirus or in the medical sector. Examples and so reduce the
COVID-19 outbreak on business, include the production of medical incidence of infections,
including steps to encourage rapid devices and parts, non-woven as manifested by febrile
investment in the manufacturing of fabric used as raw materials in the neutropenia. Fulphila,
medical equipment. Apart from the production of medical supplies, co-developed by Biocon
3 to 8 year tax holidays, a reduction diagnostic test kits, drugs, and Biologics and Mylan,
active pharmaceutical ingredients. was the first biosimilar
Additional benefits will also be pegfilgrastim to be
granted for the production of approved in the U.S.
non-woven fabric used as raw and was successfully
materials for the production of launched in July 2018,
medical masks or medical devices, thus expanding access
by expanding the corporate income for patients in need of an
tax exemption to 5 years, from 3 affordable alternative.
years. Fulphila has received
regulatory approval in
more than 30 countries
around the world.
10 COMPANY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Senhwa Samsung Biologics,
Biosciences, Vir team up to fight COVID-19
NIH to
co-develop South Korea based Samsung deal valued at approximately
COVID-19 Biologics and US based Vir $362 million, Samsung Biologics
drug Biotechnology, Inc. have is expected to commence its
announced a manufacturing manufacturing as early as October
Taiwan headquartered agreement under which Samsung with the first engineering run, with
Senhwa Biosciences Inc Biologics will perform large scale potential commercial batches to be
announced that it has manufacturing services for Vir’s manufactured starting in 2021.
partnered with US based SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody
National Institutes of (mAb) programme. Vir’s lead
Health (NIH) to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 mAb development
the efficacy of a new drug, candidates, VIR-7831 and VIR-
dubbed Silmitasertib, for 7832, have demonstrated high
treatment of COVID-19. affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 spike
The drug, developed protein and are highly potent in
by Senhwa Biosciences neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 in live-
to treat cancers, such virus cellular assays. Vir plans
as bile duct cancer, to proceed directly into a phase
medulloblastoma and 2 clinical trial within the next
pediatric brain tumor, three to five months. Under the
showed promise in
human tests to curb the Fosun Pharma gets FDA EUA
ribonucleic acid (RNA) nod for COVID-19 detection kit
virus from proliferating.
The efficacy of the drug Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical coronavirus RNA targeting for its
is not yet assessed in (Group) Co., Ltd has received specific ORF1ab, N and E gene,
Taiwan but US NIH is to emergency use authorization and can complete the detection of
undertake efficacy testing (EUA) from FDA for its COVID-19 96 samples within two hours by
of the same through RT-PCR detection kit.The testing supporting fast automatic nucleic
clinical trials. The New kit which was self-developed by acid extraction instrument and
Taipei City-based firm is Fosun Long March, a wholly- extraction reagents. In addition,
willing to partner with owned subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, automated testing will lower the
other companies and has received the medical device risk of operator infection, reduce the
provide its drugs for free. registration certificate issued by the probability of cross contamination
China National Medical Products in the clinical laboratory, and
Administration (NMPA) and improve detection efficiency.
granted CE certification from the Fosun Pharma has been engaged
European Union (EU). This kit can in the business of PCR hepatitis B
realize qualitative detection of novel virus diagnostic reagents since its
establishment in 1994. Currently,
its medical diagnosis product line is
relatively comprehensive, covering
biochemical diagnosis, immune
diagnosis, molecular diagnosis and
microbial diagnosis, POCT and
mass spectrometry, and third-party
detection service products, with a
nationwide marketing network in
China.
COMPANY NEWS 11
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Nucleus Network India, Australia
to start COVID-19 collaborate for
vaccine trials COVID-19 vaccine
US-based clinical-stage biotechnology Indian
companyNovavax has called upon the expertise Immunologicals
of Australian based Nucleus Network to Limited (IIL), has
commence Phase 1 clinical trials for the first announced that the
confirmed COVID-19 vaccine trial outside company is going to
of the US. As part of the urgent global race commence research
to develop a vaccine to tackle the COVID-19 for developing a
outbreak, Nucleus is due to commence vaccine for COVID-19.
Phase 1 testing for the Novavax SARS-CoV-2 The vaccine maker
Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle has joined hands with
vaccine, NVX- Griffith University,
CoV2373, at Australia by entering into an agreement for research
its Melbourne collaboration to conduct exploratory research to
and Brisbane develop a lead vaccine candidate for coronavirus.
clinics within In this significant cross-continental collaboration,
the coming scientists will develop a ‘Live Attenuated SARS – CoV-
weeks. The 2 vaccine’ or COVID-19 vaccine using the latest codon
Phase 1 trial of de-optimization technology. The technology looks
NVX-CoV2373 is promising for developing a vaccine for prophylactic,
expected to begin in mid-May with preliminary active, single dose immunization against coronavirus in
immunogenicity and safety results in July. The humans, with an enhanced safety profile. The vaccine
scale and absolute commitment to the highest is expected to provide long-lasting protection with a
standards make Nucleus the ideal partner single dose administration with an anticipated safety
in the rapid development of the vaccine profile similar to other licensed vaccines for active
for COVID-19. This scale allows Nucleus immunization. Upon completion of the research,
to address the urgency of the COVID-19 the vaccine strain will be transferred to IIL and the
vaccine studies, without interruption to other company will work accordingly to further conduct
ongoing clinical trials. The standards ensure clinical trials which will be taken up in a phased
the reliability of the studies, especially in the manner. IIL intends to use its existing Vero cell
current pandemic situation across the world. platform technology for mass production of the virus.
NEC designs blueprints for COVID-19 vaccine using AI
Japan based NEC vaccine development efforts Laboratories Europe (NLE).
Corporation has announced is led by NEC OncoImmunity These AI prediction platforms
analysis results from efforts (NOI) in collaboration with NEC are based on the AI technology
using artificial intelligence used by NEC and NOI in the
(AI) prediction platforms to development of personalized
design blueprints for SARS- neoantigen cancer vaccines.
CoV-2 vaccines that can NEC is now publishing
drive potent T-cell responses this research to support
in the majority of the global scientific advancements in
population. This initiative the field and is ready to start
by the scientific teams partnering efforts to pursue
within the NEC Group to help the development of an effective
combat outbreaks of COVID-19 vaccine targeting the global
and support international population.
12 FINANCE NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Australia boosts funding for COVID-19 response
With the increasing threat of facility’s rapid work on COVID-19 from the Government. Formerly
diseases spreading from animals has also been supported by a known as the Australian Animal
to humans, including COVID-19, further $10 million in funding Health Laboratory (AAHL),
$220 million has been directed the research facility has been
to upgrade the high containment renamed the Australian Centre
biosecurity research facility in for Disease Preparedness (ACDP)
Geelong, Australia currently to reflect its ongoing work to
testing vaccines to combat bring together human and animal
the disease. Operated by the health, disease protection and
Commonwealth Scientific and biosecurity measures, to better
Industrial Research Organisation protect Australia to prevent,
(CSIRO), Australia’s national prepare for and control highly
science agency, on behalf of the infectious diseases of animals as
Australian Government, the well as zoonotic diseases.
GHIT Fund invests 3.29 B Korean firm
Yen in new projects puts $2M in
SuperTrans Medical
Japan based Global Health Production, validation and
use of Leishmanin skin Israel based SuperTrans Medical, a
Innovative Technology test (LST) for detection of privately-owned biopharmaceutical
Leishmania exposure and company that initially focused on
(GHIT) Fund has announced immunity; Development of the development of new antibiotics,
a novel Pvs25 nucleoside- announced that it has received an
a total of 3.29 billion yen modified mRNA vaccine investment of $2 million from South
that induces potent and Korea based Mediforum Pharma. In
($30 million) to invest in 11 long-lasting transmission return, SuperTrans will collaborate with
blocking immunity; Made- Mediforum to allow it to participate in
partnerships to develop new in-Japan next-generation the production and commercialization
vaccine platform effective of products put into production in Asia
lifesaving drugs, vaccines for multistage Plasmodium (including South Korea, China and
for infants; and to develop Japan). In addition, Mediforum will
and diagnostics for malaria, a field-friendly point-of- also fully support SuperTrans’ future
care diagnostic test for drug development projects. SuperTrans
tuberculosis, Chagas mycetoma. Currently, there is completing a candidate evaluation
are 52 ongoing projects, of COVID-19 therapy based on its
disease, leishmaniasis, including 26 discovery, 20 transmission technology. The candidate
preclinical and six clinical compounds will be aimed at preventing
lymphatic filariasis, trials in the GHIT portfolio. viral and bacterial lung infections. The
company is currently preparing this drug
onchocerciasis, and development plan.
mycetoma. This includes
five new projects and six
that will receive continued
funding. The 5 new projects
involve- Preclinical and
Clinical Development of
SJ733, a Novel PfATP4
Inhibitor for the Treatment
of Severe Malaria;
START-UP NEWS 13
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
BluSense develops Entrepreneurship
12-minute COVID-19 test flourishes amid
pandemic in
Denmark based startup no pretreatment such as Singapore
BluSense Diagnostics, with centrifugation is required.
major investments from BluSense completed the Singapore based early-stage VC
Taiwanese companies, has development of COVID-19 Antler has received over 1500
developed a diagnostic kit serology test cartridge applications from 100 countries in
that can test COVID-19 in (ViroTrack COVID-19 IgM / barely two weeks since it launched its
12 minutes, according to IgG) in March 2020 with the COVID-19 call to startups. Startups
Taiwan’s Ministry of Science support from Taiwan-based applied for funding with various
and Technology (MOST). Ten-Chen Medical Group solutions to tackle the current
BluSense’s kit offers high (TCMG) to optimize the pandemic. Antler is currently
accuracy, portability and easy detection system. Taiwan based shortlisting and interviewing the
operation. Only one drop companies, TaiAn Technologies teams and plans to invest in up to 5
of blood sample is required and Quanta Storage, are main teams and deploy up to $500,000
from the test subject, and shareholders of BluSense. in aggregate. Examples include
drone delivered test kits for remote
Bugworks raises $7.5M from villages, patient monitoring systems,
global investment syndicate antiviral surface coating and
manufacturers pivoting production
Indian startup Bugworks investment enables Bugworks to products currently needed. The
Research Inc, designing novel response has been overwhelmingly
broad-spectrum antibiotics, to complete Phase 1 studies for positive from both new startups and
has announced the completion existing businesses adapting their
of a $7.5 million financing, its GYROX series intravenous existing products and operations.
led by University of Tokyo Antler invited startups to propose
Edge Capital (UTEC) Japan drug candidate and advance solutions in Mitigation (e.g. masks,
and Global Brain Corporation contact tracing, surveillance, data
(Global Brain) Japan, along an oral lead towards clinical infrastructure), Medical Equipment
with Acquipharma Holdings, (e.g. test kits, protective devices,
South-Africa. The company development. Bugworks’ drug ventilators), Remote Health
has raised $19 million till (e.g. telehealth, remote patient
date and has 3one4 Capital monitoring, symptom checkers)
as an existing investor. This and Digital Tools (e.g. remote work,
smart delivery, e-learning). The
purpose is to contribute towards
the path to recovery from the crisis.
The Investment criteria will take
into account the relevance towards
mitigating COVID-19, as well as
how the startup works in a post-
COVID-19 era.
candidate, a dual-target gyrase-
topoisomerase inhibitor,
supported by CARB-X since
2017, is a novel broad-spectrum
agent targeting critical
bacterial infections implicated
in serious hospital, community
and biothreat indications.
14 START-UP NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Seagull BioSolutions gears up for COVID-19 vaccine
Indian startup Seagull virosome agents expressing vaccine for the prevention of
BioSolutions, working on new desired antigens from the COVID-19 infection and also
biological technologies, is being target pathogen. These will immunodiagnostic ELISA
funded by the Department be used to develop a novel kits for COVID-19. The
of Science and Technology Immunodiagnostic kits are
(DST), Government of India, to expected to be ready for field
undertake the development of trials by the end of Aug 2020
Active Virosome (AV)-Vaccine and approved by the end of 10-11
and Immunodiagnostic kits months. On the other hand, the
for COVID-19 emergency. AV vaccine is expected to take a
Active Virosome Technology longer time. However, given the
(AVT) is useful for the emergency situation, the startup
production of vaccines and aims to complete the proof of
immunotherapeutic agents. concept in 80 days & complete
The AVT platform is useful preclinical development & start
for producing novel, non- Phase I trial by the end of 18-20
hazardous & economical active months.
SPEE3D uses UFIRST launches
anti-microbial copper smart hearing aid
to beat COVID-19
NUGUNA HEARING-AID, developed by
Australian startup SPEE3D has successfully South Korean startup UFIRST Co., Ltd, is a
developed and tested a fast and affordable way to hearing aid that detects high-pitched sounds
3D print anti-microbial copper onto metal surfaces. and informs the wearer of the direction of
Laboratory tests have shown that touch surfaces the sounds through vibration. Put NUGUNA
modified by this process contact kills 96 per cent hearing aid around the neck and turn it on, the
of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in built-in microphone will recognize the ambient
just two hours. The process, known as ACTIVAT3D sound and tell the direction of the noise by
copper, has been developed by modifying SPEE3D’s vibrating. This inconspicuous hearing aid
world-leading 3D printing technology, using new looks like typical, neckband-style, Bluetooth
algorithms for controlling their metal printers earphones. The device obtains the average value
to allow existing metal parts to be coated with of ambient noise by performing obtained 1,000
copper. Copper parts are difficult to produce using scans per second. Noise above this average level
traditional methods and thus 3D printing may be the are recognized as usual noise, such as busy
only tool available to rapidly deploy copper. SPEE3D construction sites or streets.
technology makes it fast and affordable.
WHO NEWS 15
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Tencent deepens WHO set to work with
collaboration with WHO telecommunication
companies
China based Tencent Holdings Limited has
deepened collaboration with the World Health The World Health Organization (WHO), the
Organization (WHO) via a $10 million donation International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with
to WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, support from United Nations International Children’s
and an agreement to open source our digital Emergency Fund (UNICEF) are set to work with
health solutions to assist the global fight against telecommunication companies to text people directly
the pandemic. The COVID-19 Solidarity Response on their mobile phones with vital health messaging
Fund will help all countries, particularly those to help protect them from COVID-19. These text
most vulnerable, at-risk, and with the weakest messages will reach billions of people that aren’t
health systems, to prepare for and respond to able to connect to the
the COVID-19 crisis by rapidly detecting cases, internet for information.
stopping transmission of the virus, and caring ITU and WHO call on
for those affected. In addition to the donation, all telecommunication
Tencent will also provide technology support to companies worldwide
combat the pandemic. Tencent Health is open to join this initiative to
sourcing the international module in its COVID help unleash the power
19 WeChat Mini Program, making critical of communication
information on the pandemic freely available technology to save lives
worldwide. The COVID-19 Symptoms Self- from COVID-19. This
Triage Assistant, a self-evaluation tool backed initiative builds on current
by AI technology, is also now available to people efforts to disseminate
around the world. health messages through
the joint WHO-ITU
BeHealthyBeMobile initiative. The collaboration
will start in the Asia Pacific region and then roll out
globally. The goal is to reach everyone with vital
health messages, whatever their connectivity level.
An estimated 3.6 billion people remain offline, with
most people who are unconnected living in low-
income countries, where an average of just two out of
every 10 people are online.
WHO banks on global collaboration to beat COVID-19
An initial group of global health essential health technologies. The affordable COVID-19 diagnostics,
actors including Bill & Melinda mission is not only accelerated therapeutics and vaccines, and
Gates Foundation, Coalition development and availability thus to ensure that in the fight
for Epidemic Preparedness of new COVID-19 tools, it is to against COVID-19. The group
Innovations, Gavi, Global Fund, accelerate equitable global access asks the global community and
UNITAID, Wellcome Trust, to safe, quality, effective, and political leaders to support
World Health Organization this landmark collaboration,
(WHO) and private sector and for donors to provide the
partners and other stakeholders, necessary resources to accelerate
are launching a landmark, global achievement of the objectives
and time-limited collaboration of this global collaboration,
to accelerate the development, capitalizing on the opportunity
production and equitable provided by the rolling pledging
global access to new COVID-19 campaigns.
16 WORLD NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
AstraZeneca, GSK to set up lab for COVID-19 testing
French firm Novacyt, an Anne McLaren laboratory. chemical reagents for test kits
international specialist in This facility will be used for in order to help overcome
clinical diagnostics, announces high throughput screening current supply shortages.
that as part of the UK for COVID-19 testing and to As part of the collaboration,
Government’s announcement explore the use of alternative Novacyt will ensure an effective
of a new five pillar plan to workflow process within the
increase testing for COVID-19, facility for COVID-19 testing,
Novacyt is collaborating with as well as provide its COVID-19
AstraZeneca, GSK and the test to generate results
University of Cambridge to take data. Novacyt’s COVID-19
action to support this national polymerase chain reaction
effort. A new testing laboratory (PCR) test has been developed
will be set up by AstraZeneca, by its molecular diagnostics
GSK and the University of division, Primerdesign, based in
Cambridge at the university’s Southampton, UK.
Novartis sponsors Eli Lilly begins
HCQ clinical trial in clinical testing of
COVID-19 patients COVID-19 therapies
Novartis has reached an plans to begin enrollment Eli Lilly and Company has entered
agreement with the US Food for this study within the into an agreement with the National
and Drug Administration next few weeks and is Institute of Allergy and Infectious
(FDA) to proceed with committed to reporting Diseases (NIAID), part of the National
a Phase III clinical trial results as soon as possible. Institutes of Health (NIH), to study
with approximately 440 To help achieve broad access baricitinib as an arm in NIAID’s
patients to evaluate the to hydroxychloroquine Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial.
use of hydroxychloroquine as quickly as possible The study will investigate the efficacy
(HCQ) for the treatment of in these extraordinary and safety of baricitinib as a potential
hospitalized patients with circumstances, Novartis treatment for hospitalized patients
COVID-19 disease. The will make any intellectual diagnosed with COVID-19, beginning
clinical trial drug supply property within its control this month in the U.S. with a planned
will be provided by Sandoz, that relates to the use of expansion to additional sites including
the generics and biosimilars hydroxychloroquine to Europe and Asia. Results are expected
division of Novartis. The treat or prevent COVID-19 within the next two months.Baricitinib,
large trial sponsored by available through non- an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor marketed
Novartis will be conducted exclusive voluntary licenses, as OLUMIANT, is approved in more
at more than a dozen sites in appropriate waivers, or than 65 countries as a treatment for
the United States. Novartis similar mechanisms. adults with moderately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis.
WORLD NEWS 17
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Kenya ramps up hiring Nigeria procures
of healthcare workers medical equipment
from United Nations
The government of Kenya has begun hiring of
5,000 skilled health workers at county levels. The Federal Government contribution from APM
Level 4 to Level 6 hospitals are also recruiting Terminals. The supplies
at least 1,000 health officers, meaning there has received a shipment are being deployed
will be an additional 6,000 medical workers around the country to
in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. of ventilators and other health facilities in most
At the same time, the government has asked need due to the outbreak,
the county commissioners, head teachers of medical equipment and coordination
boarding schools and those preparing meals in structures are already
the respective schools to start planning ahead in place between the
for any eventuality depending on population government and the
of the county, in order to create additional UN to ensure urgent
1,000 beds for quarantine. President Uhuru deployment. The next
Kenyatta has directed that Sh1 billion from shipment of personal
the Universal Health Coverage kitty, be protective equipment
appropriated towards the recruitment of is expected to arrive in
additional health workers to support in the Nigeria very soon.
management of COVID-19.
from the United Nations
systems in Nigeria to
help the country’s fight
against the coronavirus
pandemic. The items
were procured through
the recently launched
COVID-19 Basket
Fund that also includes
$2 million mobilised
within the UN system in
Nigeria and a $200,000
World Bank provides $7.9M to Egypt
The World Bank is providing activation will support the
Egypt $7.9 million to fund Egyptian government with the
emergency response activities implementation of the preventive
to the coronavirus outbreak in plan against the coronavirus.
the country. The World Bank is The World Bank currently has a
mobilizing quickly to support portfolio of 16 projects in Egypt
Egypt’s emergency response with a total commitment of
activities and the implementation $6.69 billion. The objective of the
of a preventive plan to confront Transforming Egypt’s Healthcare
the COVID-19 outbreak. The System Project is to: (i) improve
World Bank has activated the quality of primary and
the Contingency Emergency secondary health care services,
Response Component (CERC) (ii) enhance demand for health
under the ‘Transforming Egypt’s and family planning services,
Healthcare System Project’ and (iii) support the prevention
over the pandemic.The CERC and control of Hepatitis C.
18 COVER STORY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Portable COVID-19 Rapid Diagnostic kit developed by the ITRI
sTuAcIWceAsNs’Sstory
in combating
COVID-19
COVER STORY 19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
COVID-19 has unravelled the potency and the feebleness of most geographical
region’s healthcare, technical, social and political structure. While countries are
anticipating various dimensions to tackle coronavirus and combat the pandemic,
Taiwan’s success in controlling COVID-19 has bolstered its global standing despite
the close geographical proximity with China. The resilient island aggregated its
forces to tackle the virus and circumstances rationally with well-established
pandemic control strategies, bio medical assets, advanced IoT capabilities,
impeccable healthcare system and a well organised political force. Taiwan
apparently tussled the coronavirus incredibly well and is now keen to offer medical
and technical assistance to other countries in this global crisis.
Taiwan, an island state in East Asia is located at strategies, accountability, and the presentation of
less than 150 km sea route away from China, informative and credible daily updates to citizens.
the epicentre of COVID-19 outbreak. Among Taiwan emphasises on risk and disaster management
the 23 million population of the island 850 000 by establishing robust case tracing mechanisms and
reside-in and 404 000 work in China. Though the defined stringent quarantine protocols.
world’s corona death tool is steeping with elevated
graph, Taiwan has recorded only 429 cases and 6 On January 20, Taiwan established a Central
reported deaths as of April 30, 2020. Epidemic Command Center (CECC) spearheaded
by Vice President Dr Chen Chien-jen, himself an
Taiwan has always been provident from its earlier epidemiologist, and led by Dr Shi-Chung Chen,
lessons learnt during SARS outbreak in 2003. Thus, Minister of Health and Welfare. In April, President
the country became hyper-vigilant once the first Liang Kung-yee announced government investment
case of mysterious pneumonia reported in Wuhan, of NT$2.16 billion (US$71.7 million) in the testing,
China. Taiwan developed its proficient and self- treatment, prevention and research of COVID-19. A
established health system to address any upcoming NT$4 billion (US $133 million) 2022-2027 budget
pandemic or epidemic. Taiwan’s advanced hub is has also been approved for the Epidemic Prevention
combating COVID-19 through science, technology, Center Construction project.
and democratic proactive governance and most
importantly independent of WHO tracking system. In 2004, the year after the SARS outbreak,
Taiwan believes in strategic pre planning prior to the the Taiwan government established the National
outbreak and constantly reviews immigration policies Health Command Center (NHCC) as part of
as and when the situation evolves to monitor any disaster management to addresses public health
emerging infectious diseases. emergencies. The NHCC operates as unified central
command system among central, regional, and local
Taiwan’ trajectories and execution strategies in authorities composing the CECC, the Biological
assessing COVID-19 and quick actions in preventing Pathogen Disaster Command Center, the Counter-
a large-scale epidemic may be instructive for other Bioterrorism Command Center, and the Central
countries as the virus continue to threaten global Medical Emergency Operations Center. The dedicated
health and economies. workforce implements optimized surveillance systems,
strengthens border controls and quarantine rules, and
Rapid response and effective strategies enhances contagious diseases screening. The CECC
also takes an active role in resource allocation, mask
Ever since the SARS epidemic in 2003, Taiwan rationing, government funds utilization and deploying
has been on constant alert by establishing public defence team for mask production.
health response mechanism which activates
emergency public health management structures. Taiwan enhanced COVID-19 case detection
Taiwan proficient teams quickly mobilize and using National Health Insurance [NHI] database.
institute specific approaches for case identification, Additionally, residents use a central hotline toll-free
containment, and resource allocation. number to report symptomatic cases of themselves
and others. As the disease progressed, each major city
The arsenal of information also includes the owned its own hotline to address maximum concerns
use of advanced analytics, technology, dynamic from the population.
screening, testing and retesting, communication
20 COVER STORY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Prudent action and early deployment industrial Institutes to produce 92 mask production
lines. Taiwan is now the second-largest surgical mask
As Taiwan is not a member of the World Health producer worldwide with daily production capacity of
Organisation (WHO) it follows its own guidelines 15 million units.
deploying in-house capabilities and Information
Communication Technology (ICT) strength. When Border Control, Case
there was a surge of COVID-19 case in neighbouring Identification, and Containment
Asian countries, Taiwan health authorities did a
retrospective screening of patients reported as Taiwan’s Centres for Disease Control (CDC) claims
having severe flu. By January, symptomatic travellers to have suspected human to human transmission of
returning from the epidemic area were screened by coronavirus much earlier than WHO based on their
RT-PCR tests when cases were still considerably low. immense data on ‘atypical pneumonia from unknown
causes’.
Government ramped up the production of face
masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and Around December 31, when WHO alerted world
critical medical supplies in January with subsequent on unknown pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan,
quick rationing to its residents. Central medical Taiwanese officials began to board planes in less than
stores ensures adequate supply with frequent stock 24 hours to assess passengers on direct flights from
validation. Taiwan is sufficiently equipped with critical Wuhan for fever and pneumonia symptoms before
care assistive devices accounting to 20,000 negative- passengers could deplane. By January 5, people
pressure isolation rooms and 14,000 ventilators. with travel history to Wuhan were quarantined
and suspected cases were screened for 26 viruses
Taiwan streamlined face mask purchase through including SARS and MERS with strict quarantine
GPS guided virtual map which helps public to locate implementation.
nearest pharmacies and the stock available. Citizens
are facilitated with an online mask ordering system When China reported sporadic cases on January
to collect from a nearby pharmacy or convenience 20, the Taiwan CDC officially activated the CECC to
store avoiding a visit to public spaces. Taiwan detect severe special infectious pneumonia under
Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association NHCC, with the minister of health and welfare as
(TMBA) encouraged the members to volunteer to the designated commander. The CECC coordinated
build a national team of companies, enterprises and comprehensive efforts by various ministries,
COVER STORY 21
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
including the ministries of transportation, economics, Taiwan considers hospital-acquired infection
labour, education and Environmental Protection to as crucial and upgraded the healthcare system with
counteract the emerging public health crisis. isolation rooms and a national network of health
care centres for infectious diseases. The Healthcare
The CECC rapidly produced and implemented authorities always kept the risk of communication
a list of at least 124 action items including border transparent to public to encourage self-precautionary
control from the air and sea, case identification, measures.
quarantine, proactive case finding, resource
allocation, educating public, negotiation with other On February 25, Taiwan passed the Special Act
countries, formulation of policies toward schools and for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures
childcare, and relief to businesses. for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens which
stipulates that those who fail to meet the obligation of
On February 14, the Entry Quarantine System mandatory quarantine will be fined, while those who
was launched at Taiwan airports, so that both fully comply with the requirements will be entitled to
Taiwanese and foreign travellers can registers their monetary compensation.
contact information and symptoms by scanning a
QR code that leads to an online declaration form. Taiwan’s comprehensive public health insurance
A mobile health declaration pass was then sent system NHI covers 99.9 per cent residents and thus
via SMS to phones using a local telecom operator, encourages them to look for medical assistance in
which allowed for faster immigration clearance for initial stages of symptoms without much inspection
those with minimal risk. Those with higher risk on medical expenses which could otherwise been a
were quarantined at home and tracked through financial burden to the individual.
government issued or personal mobile phone to
ensure that they remained at home during the The surveillance programme which composes
quarantine period. This system was created within adoptable strategies and epidemic evaluation
a 72-hour period. On February 18, the government ensures a frame work for Surveillance, Transmission
announced that all hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies Interruption, Manpower Mobilization, Antivirals
in Taiwan would have access to patients’ travel Strategies, Vaccine Strategies, Personal Protective
histories. The extensive database made it possible Equipment PPE Preparedness, Health Care
to identify cases, generate real-time alerts, and take Preparedness, Risk Communication, Response and
into account the person’s medical history based on Actions.
previous events.
Taiwan’s annual influenza vaccination programme
Taiwan believes WHO announced “Public protects healthcare workers, epidemic prevention
Health Emergency of International Concern workers and public health officials through a
(PHEIC)” at a delayed stage and underestimated sessional influenza vaccination campaign.
atypical pneumonia by denying human-to-human
transmission at the early phases. According to
Taiwan’s Vice-President Chen Chien-jen who is also
a renowned epidemiologist, WHO delayed initiating
international travel alert and ignored contact tracing
and treatment to preliminary cases with mild
symptoms. Taiwan encouraged its fellow citizens
to proactively practice face mask usage at early
stages and objected WHO’s long term assumption to
mandate mask practice to infected individuals alone.
Keeping Influenza Pandemic
Preparedness Strategic Plan Ready
Taiwan prepared Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
Strategic Plan in 2006 based on the experiences
gained from combating SARS. The plan emphasizes
on increasing considerable testing capacity through
surveillance that enable the early detection of
unusual cluster or abnormal clinical symptoms, and
to understand characteristics of the virus and its
mutation trends.
22 COVER STORY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Containment of hospital borne infections Digital Communication,
Accurate Information and
Healthcare system collapse has been the major accountable critical supplies
damage of COVID-19 pandemic in many countries
worldwide because the hospitals are overwhelmed The Taiwanese government is exploring the power
by huge number of COVID-19 patients. One of the of digital social innovation by using Artificial
leading factors is hospital outbreak, which resulting Intelligence (AI) and data analytics tools to
in consecutive infection and illness of healthcare communicate with the public. Government officials
workers and patients in the hospital and community. are engaged in educating the fellow citizens daily
on the government policies, progress and necessary
To overcome such circumstances, Taiwan assistance through Live press conferences and social
hospitals established separate entrances and exits media updates.
for in- and out-patients, plus A&E patients similar
to airport customs, to help prevent the spread of Taiwan’s geo-fence, or “electronic fence” system
infection via regular hospital traffic. Additionally, which tracks mobile phone location is a proven
all visitors have to pass through a temperature effective tool to curb coronavirus spread. ‘Epidemic
checkpoint and show IDs before admittance. A high prevention mobile phones’ are distributed to
bed-per-capita ratio is also ensured to avoid inter home quarantined individual, police stations and
patient infections. government agencies for rigorous monitoring. Taiwan
appears to be the first country to use mobile location
Big data integration and analytics play a key data as a quarantine compliance mechanism. The
role to successfully prevent COVID-19 hospital people under quarantined are daily tracked by routine
outbreaks in Taiwan. Taiwan created big data for temperature and symptom checks on their designated
analytics by integrating NHI database (which covers mobile phone. The GPS data from a quarantined
99 per cent residents) with the immigration and person’s phone indicates his movement outside a
customs database to track travel history and clinical certain range, a follow-up phone call will be placed to
symptoms to discern the possible COVID-19 victim confirm the person’s availability in confined location.
visiting hospitals. It allows all hospital staffs to easily Thus, quarantined individuals are ensured they remain
access the abroad travel history via personal NHI at home. The locations of the phone’s owner appear
identification card number for every hospital visitors. in city and country heat maps and AI based real-time
The suspected person with the recent travel history location maps. This alerts healthy residents to avoid
to COVID-19 high-risk area would be transferred COVID-19 hotspots using Google maps timelines.
immediately to emergent department for further
examination. Same procedure applies to non-patients Data-driven insights and technologies are
who exhibits flu related symptoms under thermal ensuring availability of critical and basic medical
screening. On January 30, the National Health supplies. Digital tools assists officials in estimating
Insurance Administration (NHIA) database was the region’s mask supply, negative pressure isolation
expanded to cover the past 14-day travel history for rooms, and other health provisions. Citizens are
patients from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. guided via maps, Apps, chatbots and voice assistance
COVER STORY 23
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
to procure the masks from nearby pharmacy, public Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology (NIIDV) is also
health centres or convenience stores using NHI under investigation.
card. Mask stock levels are being published every 3
minutes to update on mask rationing. Government has also continued to integrate
domestic production, government and academic
Government is also attempting to debunk resources to form a national level alliance for
misinformation on COVID-19 and managing vaccines, drugs and testing tools. Country will also
psychological and emotional health of public by begin clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines in May,
posting humorous meme containing accurate and discussions of international collaborations are
information in its innovative campaign. already underway with many countries.
Diagnostics assays and Therapeutics Taiwan’s national academy, Academia Sinica,
researchers have identified potential COVID-19
The thriving Biomed industry in Taiwan is geared up protease inhibitors, which may interrupt the infectious
with its Biomedical Epidemic Prevention Technology cycle of the coronavirus and block its replication. The
to develop rapid tests, antidotes, therapeutics and European Union is also working with the Taiwan
vaccines to combat COVID-19. government’s Academia Sinica to develop a rapid test.
Taiwan government has announced an investment Early April, a research team at Chang Gung
of NT$ 5.46 billion (US $181.7 million) for the Memorial Hospital has produced 25 human
R&D activities at biomedical epidemic prevention monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) based on antibody
technologies, hoping to contribute more to the gene segments from three patients infected with the
testing, prevention and treatment of COVID-19. coronavirus which could facilitate the development
rapid screening kits and anti-viral medication.
Taiwan has three vaccine development teams in
collaboration with the European Union (EU) and US ICT industry giants such as Quanta and Foxconn
viz., Academia Sinica, the National Health Research are remodelling their production lines to make virus
Institute, and Medigen along with the US NIH. In detection kits and ventilators; companies such as TCI
terms of medical research such as drug development, are focusing on producing virus scanners that could
fast-screening testing kits, or vaccines, Taiwan will be test 96 patients at a time. There are huge number of
collaborating with partners including Czech Republic, Taiwan based companies who are coming up with
EU, Australia, US and international allies. their COVID-19 diagnostic tools.
Clinical trials are underway for the anti-viral The National Health Research Institutes (NHRI)
drugs Remdesivir, Favipiravir (Avigan), Quinine is the only organization in Taiwan qualified to
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Silmitasertib (CX- produce blood serum from horses injected with
4945). The Peptide vaccine by National Institute of the virus, NHRI is now preparing an equine serum
24 COVER STORY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Taiwan’s diagnostic kits under clinical validation waiting for approval
R&D Institute Product Status
Industrial Technology Research COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit Prototype under clinical validation
Institute (ITRI) in cooperation with Detects nucleic acids Can detect even patients in
the National Defense Medical Center Result in 1 hour incubation period
and four private companies Accuracy: 90 percent Light weight: 600gm
Estimated mass production in July
Academia Sinica and the NHRI COVID-19 rapid screening kit Prototype under clinical validation
Viral Nucleocapsid and spike Estimated mass production in July
proteins detection kit
Result in 15-20 minutes
Chang Gung University in Taoyuan Human Antibody detection kit Estimated mass production in
Results in 15-20 minutes October
Taiwan-Denmark startup BluSense COVID-19 rapid screening test Under clinical validation
Diagnostics and Ten-Chen Medical
Group [Ministry of Science and Accuracy: 90 per cent kit estimated to receive EU
Technology (MOST), Germination
Program] Results in 12 minute certification in May
Medigen and US NIH COVID-19 rapid screening test Prototype under clinical validation
National Health Research Institute COVID-19 rapid screening test Under clinical validation
(NHRI) Result in 10-15 minutes
for testing on patients with coronavirus who are actions to be taken to improve communication and
in a critical condition at its National Institute of transparency, ensuring global health security.
Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology (NIIDV). It is
also developing a rapid test using SARS antibodies Given its efficient health insurance system,
capable of detecting the COVID-19. advanced healthcare and research capabilities and
transparency with both the public and international
Moving forward, Taiwan’s Ministry of Science bodies, Taiwan believes it deserves to be part of WHO
and Technology is planning to set up 3 to 5 epidemic and a decent access to WHA.
prevention scientific research centres for biomedicine
focusing on cloud computing, telemedicine, and Taiwan External Trade Development Council
artificial intelligence. The national-level AI cloud (TAITRA), facilitated international online epidemic
supercomputer has also begun to receive proposals prevention medical seminars for a close exchange
from private sectors to develop anti-epidemic big and collaboration between Taiwan’s medical sector
data computing services. and the global medical community. Taiwan’s
medical institutions recently shared their strategies,
Can other countries experience, disease management and medical
replicate Taiwan’s model? treatment programs in epidemic prevention with
8,962 medical professionals from India’s medical
Taiwan is committed to helping international efforts community. Taiwan Academia Sinica also held a
to overcome COVID-19 challenges. Its response to video conference with officials from the European
the pandemic can be instructive to other countries Union to explore cooperation on the development of
grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. rapid testing kits and vaccines.
Taiwan is equally unhappy for being excluded Taiwan remains willing to contribute to the
from WHO emergency meeting on COVID-19 held world population utilizing its strengths across
on January 22-23. Taiwan want to be a member of manufacturing, medicine, technology and PPE
WHO and UN agency’s global alert network and essentials esp. by donating millions of face mask.
also to get access to multilateral institutions. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen calls for global unity to
is enthusiastic to participate in the World Health prevent the pandemic, keeping the differences aside
Assembly (WHA) to share its experiences in the areas and by joining forces.
of testing, diagnosis, border control, community
outbreak prevention and emphasises on the Hithaishi C Bhaskar
[email protected]
COVID-19 25
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
IS CHINA’S HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRY GOING TO GAIN
FROM COVID-19 CRISIS?
The first case of COVID-19 in China was
COVID-19 has shaken the world and reported in December 2019. Since then, the
caused enormous challenges to country has reported 83,912 cases, and 4,637
deaths, according to the data from US based John
economies and people’s lives. China Hopkins Institute. The outbreak has brought terrible
being the epicenter of the epidemic has public health crisis and significant economic costs.
been hit particularly hard. The COVID-19 According to the official data released, China’s Gross
outbreak has brought more attention to the Domestic Product (GDP) fell 6.8 per cent in January-
healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. March year-on-year, a slightly larger decline than the
Experts believe that this outbreak will serve 6.5 per cent forecast by analysts and reversing a 6
as a catalyst to the transformation of the per cent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2019. It
was the first contraction in the world’s second-largest
sector in China. How would this public economy since 1992. According to the International
health crisis change China’s healthcare Monetary Fund (IMF), China is expected to grow
industry, which was projected to be worth by 1.2 per cent this year. In January 2020, the firm
had predicted a 6 per cent growth. However, all is
$2.4 trillion by 2030? Let’s find out.
26 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
“It is likely the government will have benefits for those industries; as well as, related
further support, encourage and R&D.”
promote Chinese companies Digital healthcare will see a boom. There has
with high quality innovative been an increase in the awareness and acceptability
of internet healthcare by general public. Private
products to expand global internet healthcare companies providing healthcare
market share”. consultation/advice/monitoring, selling healthcare
Jenny Yao related products (drugs/devices/consumables) will
experience further growth in China.
Partner, Head of Healthcare, KPMG China
Jenny Yao, Partner, Head of Healthcare, KPMG
not lost, the country is expected to see a rebound in China said, “Public hospitals were slow in providing
activity later this year, with growth bouncing back internet healthcare to patients prior to COVID-19
to 9.2 per cent next year, the IMF predicts. This all but this is likely to change going forward. With
could have a ripple effect in the healthcare sector of the potential policy to include internet healthcare
the country. services into the social medical insurance payment
reimbursement and the future implementation of
Post COVID-19 Chinese Healthcare diagnosis-related group (DRGs) payment, public
hospitals will have the incentives to provide more
Healthcare sector ranks eighth in China, and the internet healthcare services to patients, creating
epidemic has shed light on the areas which need collaboration opportunities between public
to be improved. There’s no doubt this will have a hospitals and private internet companies. This will
profound impact on the several subsectors related to create new challenges as well as opportunities for
the industry. pharmaceutical and devices companies on marketing
and sales strategy.”
Healthcare reform will speed up in the coming
months, especially strengthening of the primary Echoingthe same sentimentsFreeman said,
care system and integration with public health “We have seen very rapid growth in digital B2C
crisis management system. There will be further healthcare delivery models in the past few months.
improvements on the sustainability and affordability To avoid crowds and hospitals operating at or close
of the social medical insurance funds. to capacity during the outbreak, many consumers
have shifted to online medical services, such as online
“Based on experiences from recent crises, such pharmacies and doctor consultations. Many of these
as Sichuan earthquakes and H1N1, the Chinese online services were offered at discounted rates
government had already placed an emphasis during the epidemic in order to build market share,
on emergency response systems and healthcare so developing viable long-term business models
management systems in recent years. Following the and keeping consumers after the epidemic will be
COVID-19 outbreak, we expect continued investment important to the development of this sector.”
and growth in these areas to ensure resources
can be quickly and efficiently be mobilized when With individual data collected via healthcare apps,
needed,” said Kyle Freeman, Partner, Dezan Shira & data and analytics will create further opportunities
Associates, China. for both the government and private companies to
create further value. The government is also likely
He added,“In recent years, China has also done to issue further policies to relax the social medical
well to cut red tape and become more efficient in insurance payment reimbursement for internet
medical device and pharmaceutical approvals. This healthcare services/products, especially in the areas
should will likely continue after the outbreak and
Brought to y
COVID-19 27
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
of chronic diseases management. “Following the COVID-19
“Made in China” healthcare products to take outbreak, we expect continued
investment and growth in areas
a bigger share in global markets. ‘During the
COVID-19, many countries purchased related such as emergency response
products like test kits, Personal Protective Equipment systems and healthcare
(PPEs), ventilators from China. It is likely the
government will further support, encourage and management systems to
promote Chinese companies with high quality ensure resources can be quickly
innovative products to expand global market share,”
said Jenny. and efficiently be mobilized
when needed”.
Healthcare insurance market will be further Kyle Freeman
opened to foreign players and restrictions on
innovative healthcare insurance products are likely to Partner, Dezan Shira & Associates, China
be gradually lifted.
Testing of suspected cases, quarantine put in
“Private healthcare providers were negatively place to stop further spread of infection, wearing of
affected due to reduced patient volume during masks and hand hygiene education, social distancing.
COVID-19, especially in the areas of dental, Comprehensive epidemiological surveys to identify
ophthalmology, aesthetics and plastics, creating M&A people who may have had contacts with confirmed
opportunities for investors. The number of deals may cases to stop further potential spread have all helped
increase following COVID-19 crisis,” said Jenny. in managing the outbreak.
Lessons from China “While much of the world is currently
implementing quarantine measures, China is slowly
China’s response in containing the virus has been attempting to emerge from its own quarantine. We
commendable and provided other countries a shouldn’t overlook how mobile technologies have
blueprint for mitigating this crisis.“I think that been used in an early-stage and preventative capacity.
China’s fast response and comprehensive tactics to China and other Asian countries, such as Singapore
limit the spread of the disease – closing businesses, and South Korea, have done well in using Apps,
limiting travel, and issuing stay-at-home orders, to technologies, and other systems leveraging mobile
name a few, are a clear model for other countries. data to map the spread of the virus and provide early
Another key action was the identification of ‘essential’ warnings to limit citizens from gathering in potential
businesses and the companies that support them. hotspots where infected people may have been or
This ensured that critical products continued to be where the virus may be at risk of spreading,” said
produced. And now the rest of the world is learning Freeman.
how a controlled ‘restart’ of the economy can be
achieved by watching China,” said Stephen Meyer, Sr Global supply chain
Director Analyst, Gartner, USA.
China is the largest global producers of active
“Early lockdown of Wuhan city then Hubei pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and generics.
province has clearly minimized the spread of the Since the outbreak started in China and lockdowns
infection to the other provinces in China. This also were imposed, ¬supply from their manufacturing
enabled medical staff and related medical supplies facilities has reduced and has caused ripple effects
in other parts of China to be prioritized to be sent in the pharma industry, though this hasn’t affected
to Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province,” said the global pharma drastically but has forced
Jenny.
you by Cytiva
28 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
“There will be a prioritization Diversification of the supply chain may not
of cost and cash optimization be easy warns Freeman. He said, “China is large
activities as companies attempt producer of finished medical products and
to recover the financial losses critically important inputs, such as APIs used
in drug production which may be completed in
caused by the economic other countries such as India. Given the supply
slowdown resulting from the disruptions we saw due to China factory closures
in February, during the peak of the outbreak in
outbreak”. China, we will likely see companies look to diversify
supply chains geographically to protect against
Stephen Meyer similar shocks in the future. In certain cases, we
Sr Director Analyst, Gartner, USA may even see countries attempt to onshore critical
components of medical supply chains for national
policymakers and pharma companies to rethinking security purposes. However, this onshoring may be
about pharma supply chain. difficult given the associated costs and global nature
of supply chains.”
“The COVID-19 outbreak has made many
companies re-evaluate their supply chains, which This outbreak has already caused many
are typically global and complex. China has been unexpected behaviours and will likely continue to do
a critical part of healthcare supply chains for many so, so it is impossible to accurately predict what will
years, and it is difficult to see a future where this happen in the future.
isn’t the case. However, I think that many supply
chains will look to diversify their supply chains in “But I think there are some safe assumptions on
every region in the aftermath of the pandemic. The how the global medical supply chain will change, for
fact that the impacts of the pandemic have varied example, Risk ‘appetite’ will decrease – meaning that
from country to country means that the best manner many life sciences manufacturers and healthcare
to ensure continuity of supply is to have multiple providers will be willing to invest more resources
suppliers for the same products, spread globally. in actions that will safeguard their businesses from
Single- and sole-sourced products will likely also be a future disruptions. For the medical supply chain,
priority to remediate,” said Meyer. this likely means that companies will keep more
inventory, increase supplier redundancy, and add
Chinese early steps in manufacturing capacity,” said Meyer.
containing COVID-19 outbreak
Business continuity plans will be amended
● Early treatment: opening of new healthcare to include crisis response actions. For many life
observation, monitoring and treatment sciences supply chains, the effects of a global
facilities to have all confirmed and suspected pandemic weren’t addressed in risk management
cases admitted. Treatment is provided free activities because the perceived likelihood of an event
for all COVID-19 cases, avoided patients not like this was estimated to be low. Crisis response
to seek treatment hence stopped further activities are different in that they define how to
infections. tactically manage through unpredictable, disruptive
events.
● Population health surveillance: launching
of healthcare APPs to collect individual level “There will be a prioritization of cost and cash
health data. Automatic alert system and optimization activities as companies attempt to
data sharing among community healthcare recover the financial losses caused by the economic
institutions. Created integrated speedy slowdown resulting from the outbreak,” said Meyer.
responses and avoided silos.
COVID-19 has forced firms to look at diversifying
● Timely daily reporting and sharing of data their manufacturing capacity across a number of
with the public: Communications with markets. While earlier the motto was ‘local for global,’
the WHO and sharing of early stage of countries may start to think ‘local for local’ now.
prevention/detection/treatment of COVID-19
experience with other countries to effectively The past two decades has been the years of growth
fight COVID-19. and establishment of a robust healthcare industry
in China and the next decade will be all about the
Source: KPMG China maturity and new innovations in the sector. The
COVID-19 crisis will play a significant part in shaping
China’s healthcare sector in the future.
Ayesha Siddiqui
COVID-19 29
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
VC TURNING TOWARDS
BIOSCIENCES STARTUPS
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has upended the world, shaken economies and brought terrible human suffering.
Like every other sector, Venture Capital (VC) funding has impacted. Though experts believe the impact
would be positive for the biosciences startup. This is evident from the fact that China recorded six out of
Asia’s top ten deals in the first quarter of 2020 despite impact of COVID-19. In China, EdTech, life sciences
and biotech, and logistics companies continue to be attractive for investors according to KPMG’s Venture
Pulse Q1’2020 analysis. COVID-19 has emphasized the need to invest in better healthcare and there has
also been a rise in infectious disease in the recent times. All this could translate into better funding avenues
for the startups in the sector.
It’s a good time to be in biosciences for both no exception. Fundraising for this sector had
startups and an investment body. 2019 was changed dramatically over the last decade,
the second biggest year on record for bio much more so on the back of a dynamic
sciencesventure capital, with $14 billion invested synergy between a strong political will and the
in the startups globally. It was a great year for indefatigable efforts of ecosystem stakeholders,”
exits as well, with 37 big initial public offerings said Padmaja Ruparel, Founding Partner, IAN
(IPOs) of VC-backed bio sciences startups Fund, India.
raising a total of $4.2 billion and $37 billion in
acquisitions of startups, according to Crunchbase In the global biosciences landscape, the
Data. USA currently dominates investment in this
sector, with a large percentage of investments
The current COVID-19 crisis has also put being made by the US investors into companies
attention to the healthcare and life sciences based in the US itself. In the Asia-Pacific region,
sector. This all is expected to have a positive effect China and Japan continue to lead the fray and
on the funding in the sector especially for startups India is fast establishing itself as a biosciences
in digital healthcare and infectious diseases space. powerhouse.
2018 was also a good year for bio sciences “Dedicated to resolving critical pain points
startups. During 2018, startups globally raised in the healthcare ecosystem, biosciences
just shy of $29 billion in seed through late rounds companies hold the key to unlocking a healthier,
from all investors, according to Crunchbase Data. tech-driven future along with the unparalleled
That’s up from $19 billion in 2017. Healthtech, potential of digital healthcare. We see more
pharma, drug development, cancer etc. are some
of the segments of biosciencesthat attract more “The current COVID-19
VC interest. pandemic has reinforced the
essentiality of the healthcare
How has Biosciences Funding Changed?
sector and the need for
One of the main shifts that have happened is that; pumping more resources
biosciences sector has gotten the eyes of the Big in enabling research in this
Tech, and there’s no dearth of capital. Big Tech domain. Once the crisis blows
announces a deal in biosciences’ practically every over, we are expecting the
day. It has become extremely easy to get funding global market to undergo
and VCs are now much more comfortable in dramatic paradigm shifts,
investing in riskier business, where earlier they mostly in favor of biosciences
used to spend in somewhat stable businesses.
and healthcare”.
“Till COVID-19 broke, the overall startup Padmaja Ruparel
landscape, the number of startup funds
registered is an indication of the interest in Founding Partner, IAN Fund, India
the startups. The biosciences sector has been
30 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
COVID-19 and VC funding Celgene which was acquired by Bristol-
Myers Squibb is another really active venture
The current COVID-19 pandemic has jarred player. The firm has participated in 30 deals
global economy. According to PitchBook’s valued at nearly $1.8 billion over the past three
latest report, private equity and Venture Capital years, including 13 since the beginning of 2018,
will feel the effects of this crisis. However, according to Crunchbase Data.
the scenario doesn’t sound bleak for the
biosciences startups. The report mentions that “There is considerable activity in the pharma
in addition to the VC industry, governments and / healthcare / medtechdevices corporate.
foundations are likely to be major investors These corporate are constantly innovating
in health products and services that can and working innovative startups to help them
address future health crises. Once the current pilot, test, grow and finally invest / acquire.
emergency has passed, legislators will focus With these VC / corporate funding is also
on establishing more robust rules related to encouraging angel / High Net worth Individuals
outbreak preparedness and response, including (HNI) monies and that is critical for innovations
how supplies are stockpiled and how tests are to breed in the country,” said Padmaja.
made available. Centralized disease tracking
and health records are also likely to get a boost What does future look like
as lawmakers prioritize public health over
lingering privacy concerns. According to PitchBook, higher risks for higher
rewards is one of the guiding principles of
start-ups leveraging technology to make traditional VC, and is likely to be one of the
innovative healthcare services more accessible to drivers which will lead investors to continue
people across geographies and socio-economic to pump money into biosciences. However,
strata. Moreover, while the significance of this the increase in capital searching for investable
industry has been known to innovators as well assets is likely to drive up valuations, at a
as ecosystem stakeholders since its advent, the time when investors are incentivized to keep
coronavirus pandemic has shed new light on the biosciences private for longer. The interplay of
indispensable need of progress in the biosciences these two competing factors might decide just
ecosystem. Hence, we are expecting a significant how high skyrocketing figures of VC investment
shift in 360-degree focus on bolstering this in the biosciences sector can go.
segment so that everyone can access quality
healthcare at affordable costs in any situation, be “The current COVID-19 pandemic has
it a pandemic or everyday life. To accelerate the reinforced the essentiality of the healthcare
required growth, both the government and the sector and the need for pumping more
private players will need to work in a seamless resources in enabling research in this domain.
synergy,” said Padmaja. Once the crisis blows over, we are expecting the
global market to undergo dramatic paradigm
The rise of Bio VCs shifts, mostly in favour of biosciences and
healthcare. Further, the global biosciences
In recent times, there has been an increase in industry was expected to hit $ 727 billion-
corporate funding (sometimes referred to as Bio mark within the next five years. However, this
VCs). Almost all of the big pharma companies growth figure is pre-Coronavirus estimation.
from Pfizer to Roche have an accelerator, through Hence we can safely assume that this number is
which they invest in potential startups. going to swell by a large factor. There is clearly
a need to build a cost effective healthcare /
According to Crunchbase Data, corporate bio biosciences propositions: it is now imperative
investors led at least 30 funding rounds in 2018, that the health care system is built for the entire
with an aggregate value of $1.7 billion. That’s population and not only those who can afford,”
approximately triple 2017 levels. said Padmaja.
Novartis and Celgene are the two companies The current economic and public health
which have been most active in this space. crisis due to COVID-19 has jeopardized
Novartis Venture Fund has spent $800 million everything. Experts have warned about its
and has 18 phase I &II clinical programs through ramifications on the startups funding but to
this. what extent it will affect the funding in the
biosciences sector, only time will tell.
Ayesha Siddiqui
TECHNOLOGY 31
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
The role of AI in cracking
disease to treatment
In December 2019, when then unknown coronavirus outbreak started in China, it was not the World Health
Organization (WHO) or Chinese government officials who first notified about the possible epidemic, but
a Canadian based Artificial Intelligence (AI) firm BlueDot who flagged the epidemic to its customers on
December 31, 2019. The WHO announced it on January 9, 2020. BlueDot’s software is designed to track,
track, contextualize, and anticipate infectious disease risks. That just shows how important technology has
become for the life sciences field. AI can help with every aspect of a disease management be it tracking,
testing or treating as well as in drug development from R&D, to clinical trials of a drug.
On March 26, 2020 Germany based Innoplexus AI and the drug lifecycle
AG announced some first results in its
Artificial Intelligence (AI),enabled search for Pharma companies have a lot more data now than
a COVID-19 antiviral treatment. According to the ever before. For almost every business area, be it
AI-based analysis, a combination of Chloroquine marketing or regulatory, it is important to drive
and Tocilizumab, a drug approved to treat severe meaningful insights from the data and that’s where
rheumatoid arthritis respectively. Tocilizumab is AI can be of utmost importance.
thought to interrupt the process of ‘cytokine release
syndrome’ (CRS), a form of serious inflammatory Industry executives surveyed by L.E.K.
response that can occur as a complication of Consulting expect that AI applications will become
COVID-19. standard in the pharma operating model over the
next five to ten years.
During the same month, the Alibaba DAMO
(Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook) According to Markets and Markets, the market
Academy and Alibaba Cloud have developed a for AI in the pharma industry is expected to increase
technology that can analyze CT images within from $198.3 million in 2018 to $3.88 billion in
20 seconds for diagnosing suspected novel 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
coronavirus cases with an accuracy rate of 96 of 52.9 per cent. The four applications projected
per cent. Doctors usually spend around 5 to 10 to drive the majority of the AI market in pharma
minutes diagnosing CT images of a patient. The between 2018 and 2025 include: drug discovery,
AI diagnosis system can ease the already strained precision medicine, medical imaging & diagnostics
hospital resources. The technology has been used and research. Drug discovery accounted for the
in over 260,000 clinical cases in 160 Chinese largest market size during the forecast period,
hospitals. Medical institutions in Japan, Italy, increasing from $159.8 million to $2,999.7 million
Malaysia and the Netherlands have contacted in 2025, at a CAGR of 52.0 per cent. The market
Alibaba hoping to use the technology. for precision medicine is expected to grow with the
In Jan 2020, Japan’s Sumitomo Dainippon “With AI in drug discovery, we
Pharma Co., and UK’s Exscientia announced that a can accelerate several steps in
phase I clinical study of DSP-1181, that was created
using Artificial Intelligence (AI), has been initiated the drug lifecycle, like target
in Japan for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive identification. Usually, it takes
disorder as an initial indication. DSP-1181 is being 10-12 years in discovering a drug,
progressed as a long-acting and potent serotonin where target identification can
5-HT1A receptor agonist, and its phase I clinical take up to 4 years. AI can help
study to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder as an scientists identify the targets
indication candidate. faster by reducing it to 2 years,
This is perhaps the first time that technology is at even months.”
the forefront in a medical crisis and by all indications, Swetabh Pathak
the trend will continue in the future as well.
Co-founder, Elucidata, India
32 TECHNOLOGY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Can AI save the pharma firms? The other business area where AI has tremendous
implication is marketing. AI can help marketers
Pharma consulting firm estimated that with customer engagement, real time monitoring
the average cost to research and develop and outreach; automate process, patient assistance
each successful drug is estimated to be $2.6 to name a few. Some of the pharma firms are
billion. This number incorporates the cost of harnessing the power of AI in their marketing
failures – of the thousands and sometimes strategies, though there is scope for more.
millions of compounds that may be screened
and assessed early in the R&D process, only a Pharma is an extremely regulated sector. AI
few of which will ultimately receive approval. increases the speed, accuracy and quality of
The overall probability of clinical success (the certain regulatory functions like quality assurance.
likelihood that a drug entering clinical testing According to experts, AI tools are effectively
will eventually be approved) is estimated to being used to give regulatory affairs new insights
be less than 12 per cent.Researchers stated into their own decision making ability, to help
that AI could escalate the success rate of to improve their operating processes and spot
new drug development from 12 per cent to recurring patterns.
14 per cent, giving billions of dollars savings
to pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, it According to TATA Consultancy Services
has been testified that AI can save 40-50 per (TCS), one area in which pharma companies are
cent of the time in compound creation and increasingly using AI is in pharmacovigilance.
screening associated with traditional means by Traditionally, pharmaceutical firms have employed
saving $26 billion in screening costs per year. teams of 250 to 300 people, including physicians,
Individually, AI can save $54 billion in research scientists, and other healthcare providers, to do
and development costs for pharmaceutical this work. AI can streamline this process (shrinking
industries every year. Compared with the days, weeks, and months of manual labor) and
traditional model, AI and drug development ensure greater accuracy in reporting.
have noticeable time and cost benefits. The
forthcoming market of “AI+ medicine” has high Ethical concerns
potentials. By 2025, the demand for AI and drug
research-development will exceed $3.7 billion, Like any other industries, pharma is faced with
according to consulting firm Statswork. ethical concern when it comes to AI. Earlier the
concern was that AI will replace humans and their
highest CAGR over the forecast period of 60.2 per jobs, but that’s’ not the case anymore.
cent, from $16.3 million in 2018 to $440.9 million.
Medical imaging & diagnostics and research are also “A few ethical concerns in using AI in pharma
expected to grow at CAGRs over 50 per cent. are: Data protection and privacy; Fairness;
Transparency. For avoiding biases, AI companies
AI has the potential to transform the must develop standard procedures that can clearly
pharmaceutical industry. It can help with the document how algorithms evolve, how they are
target and drug discovery, preclinical and clinical monitored and updated over time,” said Pathak.
development, and post approval activities
Europe’s The General Data Protection
“With AI in drug discovery, we can accelerate Regulation (GDPR) which came in to effect in
several steps in the drug lifecycle, like target 2018, has had fundamental impact on the data
identification. Usually, it takes 10-12 years in protection in pharma industry and many pharma
discovering a drug, where target identification can firms had tweak their policies to comply with the
take up to 4 years. AI can help scientists identify regulation.
the targets faster by reducing it to 2 years, even
months,” said Swetabh Pathak, Co-founder, This is an exciting time for the global pharma
Elucidata, India. industry. As the AI matures, we will have the
heath ecosystem where medicine is personalized,
Two of the current applications where predictive, preventative and participatory, leading
there has been a lot of movement are precision to new, more efficient and effective models of care.
medicine and drug discovery. In drug discovery,
oncology, neurology, and infectious disease are “The market for AI in pharma is increasing at
the therapeutic areas with the most candidates. a rapid rate. There are more than 200 startups in
this market. In fact, the bigpharma is collaborating
with these startups to apply AI in their projects.
The investment is also increasing since 2015 almost
doubling in 2017 & 2018,” signs off Pathak.
Ayesha Siddiqui
SPEAKING WITH 33
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
“Maintain clear SOPs and
have an efficient workflow”
National University Cancer Institute, Singapore «
(NCIS) has been maintaining safety of
cancer patients through a strategic model to Prof.Chng Wee Joo,
neutralise the impact of COVID-19 on therapeutic Director, National
clinical studies and R&D activities. The guiding University Cancer
principle of the NCIS pandemic strategy and the Institute, Singapore
framework emphasizes on resource conservation and
avoiding economic repercussions. In conversation For trials, we continue critical CT as per treating
with BioSpectrum Asia, Professor Chng Wee Joo, non-trial patient as needed. For non-critical trial, the
Director of NCIS further explained the NCIS pandemic trial may be suspended. We work towards reducing
strategy framework for a persistent medical activities physical contact with patient when possible through
upholding Safety-welfare and morale of staff. Edited telemedicine. If it is not possible, then appropriate
excerpts; PPE are used.
Can you elaborate on NCIS COVID-19 business Staff-preparedness for the “long haul” through
continuity plan framework? active measures in maintaining morale and well-being
amidst additional work
Safety of our patients: Reduce unnecessary
visits and assess risk benefit ratio of treatment, How a cancer care and research activity centre
suspend research except for ongoing clinical trials that should adopt efficient workflow strategies?
affect clinical treatment With the reduction of capacity due to the separation
into teams, it is important to maintain clear SOPs
Safety of our staff: Appropriate Personal and have an efficient workflow to ensure operational
Protection Equipment (PPE) and patient triage fitness. Regular huddles, chat group where problems
workflows, reduce contact with research subjects, use are raised real time becomes important with constant
of teleconference platforms for research, and education review of evolving situation and use of data to manage
change. Proactive triaging of patient list to reduce
No compromise to care: If patients are deemed clinic appointment and admission is also important.
possible not to see us, we still follow up with them Use of alternate platform for remote communication,
through teleconsult and home delivery of medicine chat groups, telemedicine, home delivery of medicine
are important. We have about a 10-15 per cent
Business continuity: Divide into teams covering reduction in workload but we are still able to manage
different areas so that there is no mixing and when our remaining load quite well despite split teams.
1 team is down, we still have another team. More Researchers and educationalist performing online
recently, people are encouraged to work from home. learning and seminars are still continuing literature
Use data to manage changing resource management. review, data analysis and so on.
Communications through different chat groups
for rapid information dissemination. Care packs to What is your suggestion to other global centres?
maintain staff morale. Team segregation is useful and feasible. However,
if it is to be applied; leadership and experience are
Give insight on sustainability of a segregated- important.
team model for continued cancer care and CT
Hithaishi C Bhaskar
Reduction in workload: Travel restriction [email protected]
led to reduction in foreign patients, triaging reduce
number of patients who need to attend at the hospital
further
Changes in treatment workflow: Reduction of
inpatient treatment by changing how some treatment
are given
Expansion of short stay ward to reduce hospital stay
34 SPEAKING WITH
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
“We are increasing our inventory
of select raw materials to
minimize supply disruption”
« Australia, and alongside our partner Daikyo Seiko’s
presence in Japan, West is well-positioned to
Stewart Campbell, continue to address the increasing customer demand
Vice President & in the Asia Pacific region. We have built strong
General Manager, commercial, scientific, technical and distribution
Asia Pacific (APAC), capabilities across the region to accelerate the
West Pharmaceutical growth. West further strengthened these in 2019 with
Services, Singapore our acquisitions of our Korea distribution partner,
and our increased equity stake in our very significant
US headquartered West Pharmaceutical global partner Daikyo. We will continue to deliver
Services, Inc., a global leader in innovative on our long-term financial construct of organic sales
solutions for injectable drug administration, growth and operating margin expansion. Our teams
recently named Stewart Campbell as the Vice across the globe have demonstrated their passion for
President & General Manager for the Asia Pacific customers throughout 2019, with new product and
(APAC) region. Following this announcement, services offerings, and are poised to deliver another
BioSpectrum Asia reached out to Campbell who is strong year of sales and profit growth for our business
based out of Singapore to find out how he plans to in 2020. Company is introducing full-year 2020
continue establishing the company’s leading position financial guidance of net sales in a range of $1.95
within the APAC region amidst the COVID-19 billion to $1.97 billion and reported-diluted Earnings
pandemic. Edited excerpts; per share (EPS) in the range of $3.45 to $3.55.
What are the major plans lined up to enhance What were the key highlights of the FY19-20 for
the APAC business? West’s business?
The impact of COVID-19 has been severe not only 2019 was a great year. West Pharmaceuticals saw
in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region but across the net sales of $1.840 billion, which grew 7.1 per cent.
world. Many countries and regions are still grappling Organic sales growth was 10.2 per cent. Across each
with this problem both in terms of the immediate market unit—Biologics, Generics, Pharma, and
and medium to long term. Since West comes under Contract Manufacturing—customers are seeking out
essential services, our plants around the world West’s differentiated packaging and delivery devices.
continue to operate largely to schedule to meet the We are seeing that interest grow around the world,
requirements of our clients. Our immediate priority with faster growth in the Asia Pacific and South
is to maintain the ability to support healthcare America regions. Sales in 2019 within the Asia Pacific
systems around the world through undisrupted and South American markets represented about 10
manufacturing and supply of our products. The strong per cent of total sales and have grown by double-
tenants of our market-led strategy and globalization digits, further positioning the company to serve our
of the manufacturing network are contributing to the global customer base.
resiliency of West’s business in today’s climate. The
growth trends we have experienced throughout 2019 For the first quarter of 2020, we had 13 per cent
have continued in the first quarter and the outlook for organic sales growth, largely through strong high-
the balance of the year remains positive. value product sales. High-value products (components
and devices) represented 63 per cent of segment sales
With offices in Singapore, China, India, and and generated double-digit organic sales growth.
The segment saw good demand for Westar, Daikyo,
NovaPure and FluroTec components as well as
for devices such as Daikyo Crystal Zenith syringes
and cartridges and our self-injection platforms.
SPEAKING WITH 35
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
The Biologics market unit had strong double-digit “One of the biggest challenges faced by
organic sales growth. The Generics market unit biopharmaceutical companies and their drug
had high-single digit organic sales growth, and the delivery system partners is navigating the
Pharma market unit had mid-single digit organic changes in global regulatory requirements.
sales growth.The Contract Manufacturing Products Stricter regulatory requirements and
segment net sales grew by 14.5 per cent to $118.1 varying regulations around the world
million. Organic sales growth was 15.9 per cent with require organizations that are flexible
currency translation decreasing sales growth by 140 but with strong internal capabilities and
basis points. Segment performance was led by sales of systems to be able to support the needs.
components for diagnostic devices as well as drug- Secondly, new biologics and biotech require
injection delivery devices. fast, effective, innovative solutions from
companies that know how to handle
How is the BioSupplier sector faring in the delicate molecules and raw materials.
APAC region? Supported by new technologies, drug
India is often referred to as the “pharmacy of the packaging is evolving at a rapid pace. “
world.” Indian companies are servicing almost 200
countries and West India plays an important part commercial staff is following the work from home
in partnering with these companies. Additionally, directive. The second priority of West is to maintain
vaccines from India are being shipped all over the the ability to support healthcare systems around the
world – two out of three pediatric vaccines are world through undisrupted manufacturing and supply
currently being made in India. So there is a growing of our products. Over the past months, West has
bio market and increased needs in India. West sees setup Global and Regional Pandemic Preparedness
a few trends that drive our continued growth. One and Crisis Management teams, which are conducting
of the biggest challenges faced by biopharmaceutical business impact analyses and developing contingency
companies and their drug delivery system partners plans for the COVID-19 situation. Precautionary
is navigating the changes in global regulatory measures have been put in place to protect our
requirements. Stricter regulatory requirements manufacturing facilities.
and varying regulations around the world require
organizations that are flexible but with strong internal We are increasing our inventory of select raw
capabilities and systems to be able to support the materials sourced from current areas of concern
needs. Secondly, new biologics and biotech require to minimize any supply disruption and closely
fast, effective, innovative solutions from companies monitoring the transportation and logistical issues
that know how to handle delicate molecules and raw and each customer’s order flow. Many companies are
materials. Supported by new technologies, that are developing diagnostic tests, treatments, vaccines for
not only working to maintain product quality and the COVID-19 virus. As a leading solution provider of
prevent tampering, but also to create completely new drug containment and delivery systems, West and our
packaging alternatives, drug packaging is evolving at partner, Daikyo are supporting our customers with
a rapid pace.We operate a market-led strategy, which these COVID opportunities. West has been asked
means we have specific plans for each market unit. by a few companies to increase their orders. This is
Ensuring we are thoughtful about the needs of our natural when there is a global or regional crisis as
customers and that we offer them the right kind of companies seek to ensure they have sufficient stock of
products and services based on that insight is one way packaging materials to support their operations.
we know we will improve the customer experience.
We are monitoring order flow to ensure that we
How is West contributing to tackle the are able to address true demand. It is premature to
COVID-19 outbreak? What could be the impact determine the new world order which will emerge
of the pandemic on the BioSupplier sector? once this pandemic is over. Countries are coping
We continue to restrict all travel of our team members with different level of stress at this juncture and it
and we continue to restrict all visits by external may take some time for the dust to settle down and
customers and suppliers to our West facilities, normalcy to return.
depending on the fluid nature of the situation.
Since we come under essential services, our plants Dr Manbeena Chawla
around the world, continue to work with minimal [email protected]
staff to meet the requirements of our clients. All our
36 SPEAKING WITH
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
“Pursue ‘1-10-60 rule’
to effectively combat
sophisticated cyber-threats”
« in the way organisations operate, with many having
to move quickly to stand-up a remote workforce or
Sherif El-Nabawi, enable remote doctor consultations due to social
Vice President distancing guidelines. This has created a perfect storm
(Engineering, for adversaries to launch targeted attacks against an
APJ), CrowdStrike, overstretched healthcare industry.
Singapore
Threat activity has ranged from financially
As hospitals and medical organisations around the motivated threat actors targeting hospitals to deny
world are working endlessly to preserve the well- them access to critical systems and disrupting their
being of individuals stricken with COVID-19, ability to provide patient care, to the compromise of
cybercrimehackers are silently targeting hospitals to sensitive patient information.
exploiting stretched healthcare resources and to access
critical care systems through cyber-attacks. Interpol, On April 4, Interpol issued an alert following a
the international police organisation has issued an alert rise in ransomware attacks on healthcare institutions
following a rise in ransomware attacks on hospitals on the frontline of the battle against the pandemic.
and other healthcare institutions amidst the pandemic. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts access
Most alarmingly, in late-March, a medical facility on to systems, files or personal information and demands
standby to help test any coronavirus vaccine has been a payment for access to be returned.
hit by a ransomware group. Similarly, hackers have
been posing as government entities in India, Japan, While other critical infrastructure sectors are
Singapore and even the World Health Organisation experiencing these attacks as well, the nature of the
(WHO) to send bogus health advisories on coronavirus healthcare sector’s mission poses unique challenges. If
through email, infecting people with malware. Malaysia a hospital is unable to operate at its normal capacity,
reported spike in cybersecurity cases by a whopping 82.5 there would be an immediate and direct impact on
percent during the COVID-19 Movement Control Order the health and well-being of its patients at this critical
so far. In a recent conversation with BioSpectrum Asia, time.
Sherif El-Nabawi, Vice President (Engineering, APJ),
CrowdStrike, Singapore gave insight on healthcare What are the techniques and procedures that
cyber-attacks and keys to mitigate the risk. hackers are using to target the healthcare
Edited excerpts; sector?
While the CrowdStrike Falcon OverWatch - managed
How do cyber-attackers exploit healthcare threat hunting team has uncovered a diverse range of
resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and adversaries targeting the healthcare industry, there
what are the consequences of cyber-attacks on are two distinct trends that cyber-defenders should be
Asia-Pacific healthcare sector? alert to.
The world has witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic place
unprecedented strain on many countries’ healthcare ● The first is ‘brute-forcing’ and the exploitation
systems. It has been the catalyst for a paradigm shift of internet-exposed services and public-facing
applications to gain initial access
● The second trend is the effort that adversaries
are putting into preparing their victims’ environment
for maximum impact
CrowdStrike regularly sees the use of valid
credentials as an initial access point for hackers.
According to recently observed activity, one of the
most frequently used collection methods is password-
spraying brute-force attacks against internet-facing
SPEAKING WITH 37
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
services like Server Message Block and Remote What are your recommendations to the public
Desktop Protocol. Compared to traditional brute-force and private healthcare organisations to mitigate
attacks, password spraying can reduce the frequency the risk from malicious hackers during this
of account lockouts and can, therefore, be more epidemic?
difficult to detect. It is common for this technique Combating sophisticated adversaries requires a mature
to successfully expose user credentials, including process that can prevent, detect and respond to threats
administrator accounts. with speed and agility. CrowdStrike urges public and
private healthcare organisations to pursue the “1-10-
Gaining access through unpatched public-facing 60 rule” to effectively combat sophisticated cyber-
servers has proven to be another popular method threats. This means being able to detect intrusions in
observed in recent intrusions targeting healthcare under one minute, investigate and understand threats
organisations. Adversaries are exploiting services in under 10 minutes, and then remediate the intrusion
with known vulnerabilities like Internet Information in under 60 minutes.
Services and SharePoint to access healthcare networks.
Operating at 1-10-60 velocity takes more than
Once they achieve initial access, adversaries are technology. It ultimately requires mature processes
often employing measures to prepare their victims’ and effective, dedicated security professionals. Given
environment for ransomware deployment to achieve that not every organisation is equipped to engage in
disruption. These include using ‘living-off-the-land’ this sort of battle 24/7, successful enterprises often
capabilities (i.e. deploying a network’s own tools look outward for help, partnering with best-in-class
against it to extend the attack), credential harvesting external solution providers to help fill critical talent
tools to establish persistence, escalate privileges, and gaps in a cost-effective manner.
perform host and network discovery, and defence-
evasion techniques. Organisations that meet this 1-10-60 benchmark are
much more likely to kick off the adversary before the
How can APAC healthcare organisations harden attack spreads from its initial entry point, minimising
their security posture? impact and further escalation. Meeting this challenge
As the scale of this disaster has unfolded, CrowdStrike requires investment in deep visibility, as well as
has observed more than one prominent eCriminal automated analysis and remediation tools across the
group issue public statements about their intent to enterprise, reducing friction and enabling responders
not target organisations in the healthcare industry. to understand threats and take fast, decisive action.
However, OverWatch team encountered a doubling
of intrusions impacting healthcare organisations from How CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity technologies
the fourth quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2020. actively tracking and fighting cyber-threats
heightened by COVID-19?
In this period of heightened attention on the The CrowdStrike Falcon platform delivers advanced
healthcare industry, it is crucial to maintain basic prevention, visibility and detection, using its
security hygiene, including vulnerability patching and lightweight agent, as well as machine learning and
management, to prevent access to critical systems. sophisticated cloud-native endpoint protection
We encourage defenders in the Asia-Pacific region’s capabilities to deliver complete threat protection.
healthcare sector to consider the following measures As the last line of defence, CrowdStrike has a world-
to harden their security tooling and maximise visibility class threat hunting team who hunt for the most
across their networks: sophisticated and stealthy adversaries before they can
accomplish their objectives.
1. Fortify network access, particularly remote
access. It is essential that network defenders enforce Purpose-built in the cloud, the Falcon platform
strong password policies and require two-factor is powered by the proprietary CrowdStrike Threat
authentication (2FA) Graph, which correlates over 3 trillion events a week
from around the globe, providing rich data that
2. Protect public-facing servers by ensuring that allows organisations to protect endpoints on and
security patches are applied regularly, including those off the network. The Falcon platform’s single-agent
that are linked to telemedicine or telehealth services. architecture can be deployed in minutes at scale to
Logging and analysing authentication to public servers deliver real-time protection and actionable threat
would also be beneficial in helping to identify unusual intelligence that allows organisations to spot and stop
access attempts breaches quickly.
3. Ensure that all of their workloads are covered Hithaishi C Bhaskar
by proper endpoint security and that they have an [email protected]
active monitoring and detection program enabled by
continuous proactive threat hunting
38 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
India to play a crucial role in the
supply of repurposed drugs globally
« countries then it will become very difficult to provide
healthcare services beyond a certain level. In such a
Prashant Khadayate, situation, India and Asian countries can only counter
Practice Head fight against COVID-19 through quick availability of
of Healthcare, repurposed drugs for their population.
GlobalData, India
According to GlobalData’s COVID-19 Dashboard, as
Currently, research on repurposed drugs is gaining of April 28, top five countries in the Asian region with
importance amid worsening COVID-19 infection confirmed cases are as follows – Turkey (112,261), Iran
globally. Research into repurposed drugs is (91,472), India (29,451), Israel (15,589), and Japan
largely focussed on anti-malarials, anti-rheumatoid (13,614). China is excluded from this list as they have
arthritis, and anti-HIV medicines. Additionally, already recovered from COVID-19 infection with very
research is focussed on vaccines (for example, mRNA- few new cases being reported now.
1273), novel drugs including new chemical entities
(for example, tradipitant) and new biological entities In clinical research phase
(for example, CMAB-806). However, vaccines and
innovative drugs will take at least 12 – 18 months at the Recently, a Monash University-led study has shown
earliest to get the approval for COVID-19. that an anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin already available
around the world can kill the virus within 48 hours in
The drugs being used for repurposing are a relatively cell culture. Scientists showed that a single dose of this
easier way of finding the treatment and prophylaxis drug could stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell
option as repurposed drugs already have proven culture.
safety and efficacy in other indications compared to
innovative drugs and repurposed drugs could be made Researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research
available quickly if they are approved for COVID-19 by Institute in Australia initiated a randomized, multi-
the regulatory bodies considering COVID-19 outbreak center clinical trial to test the use of tuberculosis
continues to affect many countries across the globe. vaccine BCG against COVID-19. The BRACE trial is
Furthermore, the production capacity already exists for intended for healthcare workers. It is based on previous
such largely generic drugs. Countries across the globe study findings that BCG decreases the level of virus in
are looking for a quick solution for both treatment and patients infected by viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2.
prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection. Moreover, it is Another trial has been initiated in the Netherlands
critical to find a solution now as the COVID-19 infection
curve will take a few months to flatten out even in the
best-case scenarios being projected by experts.
Repurposed drugs
Health infrastructure in developing countries like India
and other countries in the Asian region barring a few
countries is not as strong as the countries in Europe and
the US. Currently, Asian countries are mainly focussing
on containing the spread of the virus at the first place.
Overall infection spread is relatively stable compared
to European countries and the US. However, if the
infection spreads at a large scale in India and Asian
COVID-19 39
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
where 1,000 healthcare workers from eight hospitals the potential for cardiac events. They suggested
will receive either the BCG vaccine or a placebo. The screening patients for cardiac arrhythmias and also
research is a collaboration of four countries, and apart concomitant use of certain central nervous system
from Australia and the Netherlands, two other teams (CNS) drugs, but downplayed concerns around HCQ’s
will soon initiate trials in the UK and Germany. possible retinopathy side effect. Other key drugs like
Favipravir which is approved for unspecified influenza
Moreover, New York Institute of Technology virus infections and Tocilizumab being mainly used for
(NYIT) researchers have found that countries with rheumatoid arthritis could also prove beneficial against
BCG vaccination as part of the national immunization COVID-19 infection. All the above-repurposed drugs
program have been less severely affected compared will still need to prove its efficacy through clinical trials.
to countries without BCG vaccination policies. BCG However, they certainly provide a ray of hope in the
vaccination is part of the national immunization fight against COVID-19 infection.
program in India and the majority of the Asian
countries. Supply of repurposed drugs globally
Amid all this, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has Currently, India is willing to allow preferential export of
emerged as the front runner globally for both HCQ to neighbouring countries and countries affected
prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. A by COVID-19 to a higher degree. India is one of the
recent open-label non-randomized clinical trial in largest producers of HCQ. India is following a scenario-
France has shown that HCQ treatment is significantly building approach and will allow export of drugs on
associated with viral load reduction/disappearance a case by case basis. India has already committed
in COVID-19 patients and its effect was reinforced by supplying HCQ to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh as
azithromycin. However, only 20 patients were treated these countries are completely dependent on India
with HCQ and therefore this can’t be termed conclusive for pharmaceuticals. Recently, India has shipped five-
evidence as only viral load, and no clinical endpoint, tonne shipment to Israel for drugs chloroquine and
such as disease severity or mortality, showed an effect. HCQ and agreed to sell HCQ tablets to Malaysia for use
in the treatment of COVID-19.
According to GlobalData’s Insights Investigative
News, despite the randomised and controlled nature Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, IPCA Laboratories
of numerous ongoing COVID-19 trials of HCQ and and Cadila Healthcare are among India’s leading
chloroquine, several experts noted they were skeptical suppliers of HCQ. Earlier, India lifted the ban
of the relevance of upcoming results and overall trial on export of HCQ basis internal assessment and
successes. Others, though, said it is too early to judge, considering request from 30 nations including South
and earlier clinical trial data are too limited to draw Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
conclusions. grouping are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
While HCQ is thought to have a better side-effect
profile than chloroquine, experts agreed both have According to Indian Government – Ministry of
External Affairs, India gifted 5 million HCQ tablets to
countries in the neighbourhood and the IOR (Indian
Ocean Region), Africa, Latin America, Central Asia,
Eurasia and WANA (Western Asia and North Africa)
regions. India has also provided 1.32 million PCM
(paracetamol) tablets to neighbouring and other
partner countries along with medical aid which includes
essential drugs and life-saving antibiotics.
Indian companies have raw material manufacturing
capacity that can produce 100 million HCQ tablets.
IPCA Labs has the world’s largest manufacturing
facility for HCQ. India is already at the center stage
with respect to the supply of HCQ. However, if other
repurposed drugs or vaccines like Ivermectin and
BCG vaccine are also approved, then again, the Indian
players will be in the pole position to quickly supply
those drugs or vaccines as well. This will be critical to
contain the spread of infection and treat severe patients
at that point in time.
40 TECHNOLOGY
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
DataOps can provide a Data Cure
for healthcare organizations
« Healthcare organizations must find a data cure
that will address both data challenges: access to
Charlie Farah, and use of information. The emerging methodology
Director, APAC known as DataOps addresses both issues.
Healthcare & Public
Sector, Qlik DataOps is a new approach to agile data
integration that looks at the challenge from a holistic
Data is of limited value to a healthcare perspective of people, process and technology. It
provider if there is no understanding of its focuses on improved collaboration and automation
nature or potential application. Data must of data flows across an organization. When done
be analyzed regularly to uncover new insights and correctly, it results in an overall data set of processes
gaps. When access is made easier in a governed that help the organization manage and use their
approach, individuals gain greater knowledge about data in real time to transform patience care and
the available information and how best to use it, experience.
helping to build their data literacy skills.Healthcare
organizations must bring together the teams working Fighting the Data Access Challenge
and using data through the adoption of modern
technologies. This is how DataOps was born, to fill in As the amount of data increases daily, one of the
the gap. biggest issues is how to capture and manage it all
efficiently. For healthcare this includes allowing
Data is the lifeblood of every hospital and appropriate real time access for all users to that
healthcare organization. Without it, doctors can’t data for analytics – while keeping it protected in
access updated patient records for proper treatment; accordance with HIPAA. One of the first steps is
billing departments are unable to correctly process implementing modern data architectures that can
insurance claims; and research teams are limited in handle the growing data volume. Open architectures
their ability to uncover new findings. Today there based on hybrid and multi-cloud provide the greatest
are issues with both data availability and access to efficiency along with agility to improve patient care
the right information, for all users in a governed and increase operational efficiencies.
HIPAA compliant structure, that keeps healthcare
organizations from effectively scaling the use of data Data management platforms such as cloud data
to impact lives. lakes and warehouses require continuous data
integration so that the needs of real-time analytics
Data analytics is often discussed as a key element are met. Change data capture (CDC) technology
because of its potential to uncover insights that provides a non-invasive method to catch data and
improve operations while also increasing care quality
and efficiency. In today’s world of tight budgets “A core component of a DataOps framework
and rising costs, its essential that organizations is the creation of an enterprise data
maximize staff time allocated to care and minimize catalog – an internal marketplace that
costs. However, even if a hospital provides access to lists what data is available for analytics.
all its data, a lack of data literacy – an individual’s The marketplace informs clinicians, nurses
knowledge on how to use and analyze data – could and administrators how the data was
limit data’s effectiveness towards improving care and collected, shared and modified, along with
operations. the associated access rights. The catalog
should also provide additional governance
tasks transparently such as masking any
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to
ensure regulatory compliance.”
TECHNOLOGY 41
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
metadata changes from core application systems and “DataOps is a new approach to agile data
databases, and stream them in real-time to the data integration that looks at the challenge
management and analytics platforms. The beauty of from a holistic perspective of people,
CDC is that it works in conjunction with data lake process and technology. It focuses on
and warehouse automaton to provide near real-time, improved collaboration and automation of
analytics-ready data wherever it is required. data flows across an organization. When
done correctly, it results in an overall
Healthcare organizations must track where data is data set of processes that help the
located and how it is being used at all times to remain organization manage and use their data in
HIPAA compliant. A core component of a DataOps real time to transform patience care and
framework is the creation of an enterprise data experience.”
catalog – an internal marketplace that lists what data
is available for analytics. The marketplace informs analyze huge volumes of data from multiple sources
clinicians, nurses and administrators how the data – including SAP ERP, SAP Business Warehouse,
was collected, shared and modified, along with the Microsoft Excel, and Salesforce Automation, as well
associated access rights. The catalog should also as a third-party information management system.
provide additional governance tasks transparently This helped the organization to conquer the challenge
such as masking any Personally Identifiable and complexity of handling large amounts of data
Information (PII) to ensure regulatory compliance. while keeping the total cost-of-ownership low. Taking
the data to the next level should be a priority.
This type of organized collection, access and use
of data is fundamental for DataOps frameworks. We Healthcare organizations must bring together the
are already seeing healthcare organizations put this teams working and using data through the adoption
structure in place before the official term of DataOps of modern technologies. This is how DataOps was
was used to describe data-based decision making. born, to fill in the gap and break the internal silos so
For example, for some organizations there may be all departments and executives can unlock the full
varied understanding of what constitutes clinical potential of their data for improved patient care and
variation or what is typically reported as an average experience.
length of stay for a patient so creating that metadata
in the backend of the catalogue ensures all users
are interacting with the data the way in which the
organization intends.
Raising Your Organization’s Data Health
Data is of limited value to a healthcare provider if
there is no understanding of its nature or potential
application. Data must be analyzed regularly to
uncover new insights and gaps. When access is made
easier in a governed approach, individuals gain
greater knowledge about the available information
and how best to use it, helping to build their data
literacy skills.
Additionally, when a new data set is created and
shared in the data marketplace, it fosters greater
collaboration across internal teams. A positive
feedback loop on the data’s value and use is created
while enhancing the individual and collective data
literacy.
Healthcare organizations with greater data
literacy are able to uncover valuable insights in
time to truly transform patient care. In the case of
LupinPharmaceuticals, which is the third-largest
pharmaceutical manufacturer by revenue in India,
analysing data helped in driving rapid and fact-
based decisions for the business. Using the Qlik
Analytics Platform, Lupin was able to integrate and
42 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
BIOSPECTRUM WEBINAR ON “EXPLORING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COVID-19”
“The biggest challenge that
India is facing now is the
skewed ratio between
population & limited resources”
As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise all across the globe, healthcare authorities and experts
are coming together to identify gaps and work together to accelerate and fund priority research needed to
help stop this outbreak and prepare for any future outbreaks. With an aim of exploring the various aspects
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, BioSpectrum India conducted a webinar on April 16, which saw
participation of industry experts sharing their views on how can India tackle this outbreak.
Hailing the government’s efforts and initiatives Institute of India Pvt Ltd, Pune; Dr Taslimarif Saiyed,
in controlling the spread of pandemic CEO & Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular
COVID-19 in India industry experts suggest Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru; Dr Priti V. Warke,
few measures to move to normal daily life and bring Director- Cell Culture, Head- Regulatory Affairs,
cheer among the daily wagers who have been the most HiMedia Laboratories, Mumbai and Satyaki Banarjee,
affected. The suggestions include Fast-Track Approval CEO- Medical Imaging, Trivitron Healthcare, Mumbai
of Innovations; Scaling-up the number of testing labs shared their views on various crucial aspects of this
and Manufacturing set-ups; More Public-Private pandemic such as What are the current challenges
Partnerships; Developing Rapid-Tests and Proper facing India in countering this fight?What are the
Functioning of Logistics and Transportation. resources available and what more is required?What
needs to be done so that India is more prepared for a
The above suggestions were made during a webinar future pandemic situation? And what is the impact on
organised by BioSpectrum India on “Exploring Various the Indian economy?
Aspects of COVID-19” on April 16. Participating in
the webinar Dr Rajeev M. Dhere, Executive Director Challenges
& Dr Suresh Jadhav, Executive Director, Serum
Healthcare system all over the world is facing number
“There is almost 45000 tons of of challenges in the current pandemic situation.
fleet material which has come Talking about the challenges, Dr Taslimarif Saiyed
into the country and sitting on said, “It’s a worldwide health challenge now. Some
the tarmac in Delhi, Mumbai of the challenges includes early stage diagnosis for
and other areas. Unless it is
cleared, we cannot get raw
material inside. Also, even if the
material is ready, we cannot
export it. All this is causing the
choking of storage. This will
create a very several problems
in coming months for pharma
industry as well”.
Dr Suresh Jadhav
Executive Director,
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, India
COVID-19 43
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
people who are symptomatic carrier or asymptomatic “The biggest challenge that
carrier, which is going to be a very crucial thing our country is facing right now
and very important aspect. At the same time, we
are facing the availability issues of diagnostic kits, is the skewed ratio between
personal protection equipment (PPEs) for healthcare population and limited
professionals and therapeutic aids like ventilators.
Having said that, India due to lockdown have gotten resources. Since we are not self-
some time to prepare itself to tackle these challenges sufficient and need to import
where spread of infection has possibly shifted bit lot of critical raw materials,
further away giving the time to prepare for availability
of diagnostics, PPEs and other resources. Now, India customs and airports should be
needs to work bit more to tackle these challenges.” opened for next two months at
Pointing out the skewed ratio between population least for the critical goods.”
and limited resources, Dr Priti V. Warke added, “The Dr Priti V. Warke
biggest challenge that our country is facing right now
is the skewed ratio between population and limited Director- Cell Culture, Head- Regulatory Affairs,
resources. We have doctor ratio of eight doctors per HiMedia Laboratories, India
thousand people as opposed to seventy-one in Korea
and eighty-one in Italy. We have one state-run hospital Talking about public-private partnership in
for fifty-five thousand people. The biggest challenge ensuring the resources, Satyaki Banarjee said,
that we are facing is the limited resources that we have “The government is actively working with medical
in terms of our testing capabilities and healthcare device manufacturers across the country to scale
system.” up the manufacturing of ventilators. It is created a
consortium bringing in the expertise of automobile
Resources manufacturers, other electronic manufacturers and
have asked them to work very closely with medical
Availability of proper resources is crucial for the device manufacturers to help them develop ventilators
smooth functioning of healthcare system. Highlighting rapidly and scale-up the manufacturing. That’s a
the role of resources, Dr Rajeev M. Dhere added, prudent step that has been taken. The regulatory
“Today, the number of tests we are carrying out is agencies, the medical fraternity and the manufacturers
significantly low so we are missing out on many of medical equipment’s have collaborated in this time
asymptomatic carriers which eventually could of need and has come up with specifications and a
transmit this and make a hotspot or a cluster. So, roadmap to scale up the manufacturing of ventilators.”
what is must today is the number of tests that we
should carry out. There is also a concept of the pool “Efforts are being made to manufacture ventilators
testing which proved to be successful during earlier that can operate in multitude of environment even in
pandemic. A group of ten people tested simultaneously places where access to compressed air is not available.
could reduce the number of test and then if you find in These ventilators will either have built-in turbine or
them ten positives, you can go on testing ten. I think a mechanical system to generate air in the absence of
increasing the number of tests with some innovative compressors”, he added.
approach will be a better thing to do.”
“We need to scale-up the number of testing labs
and manufacturing set-ups involved in the sampling
and testing kits. The entire workforce involved in
“India is possibly getting
towards right direction. Post
COVID there should be larger
investments in infrastructure,
regulatory approvals, science
& innovation so that we are
much better in our position to
respond.”
Dr Taslimarif Saiyed
CEO & Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Platforms (C-CAMP), India
44 COVID -19
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
KEY TAKEAWAYS “The regulatory agencies, the
medical fraternity and the
● Fast-Track Approval of Innovations manufacturers of medical
● Scaling-up the number of testing labs &
equipment’s have collaborated
manufacturing set-ups in this time of need and has
● More Public-Private Partnerships come up with specifications
● Developing Rapid-Tests
● Proper Functioning of Logistics & and a roadmap to scale up the
manufacturing of ventilators.”
Transportation
Satyaki Banarjee
the healthcare system, testing labs, manufacturing CEO- Medical Imaging, Trivitron Healthcare, India
set-ups involved in making of testing kits, PPEs,
sanitisers should be fully operational. Since we are innovation, local innovations may be able to at least
not self-sufficient and need to import lot of critical to some extent be able to address the challenge but
raw materials, customs and airports should be open that exactly would allow us to how we can prepare
for next two months at least for the critical goods. ourselves to future pandemic and what we require
Apart from this, supply chain and logistics is a very is: Infrastructure, right healthcare system which
important part of this chain and it needs to be agile can approve innovations in speedy manner so when
and seamless”, Dr Priti added. such kind of challenges come, it just needs to gear
up one notch and not necessarily many notches.
Preparing for a future pandemic situation This is something India is possibly getting towards
but post this there should be larger investments
Highlighting the role of innovations and innovators in in infrastructure, regulatory approvals, science &
pandemic situations, Dr Saiyed said, “Because of the innovation so that we are much better in our position
availability of indigenous innovation which were being to respond.”
built over last 8-10 years, innovators have been able to
make a small shift in their plan and worked towards Impact on the Indian economy
addressing the need of such resources in COVID-19
situation and that has been a very important aspect Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on Indian
where you have what you call it a infrastructure, the economy & pharma sector, Dr Suresh Jadhav said, “On
talent and innovation temperament built over 8-10 Indian economy, this is really going to impact in a big
years. This now possibly would allow us to address way and it will take another two-three year for India to
the issue of availability which conventionally we come back to normal position. All the businesses are
were looking at in terms of importing and currently closed down except for maybe the small shop owners.
importing is not an option and rather it’s not sufficient. It has impacted tremendously daily wage people. To be
I think this possibly may be the time where in-built honest, even government was also not really prepared
at this time to take a decision on what to do with these
“There is also a concept of the people. Although so many NGOs and government have
pool testing which proved to come out to help such people but they have suffered
the maximum. Apart from that, almost all people
be successful during earlier working in big industries are now operating from
pandemic. A group of ten home or they have closed down except few like pharma
which is working but with no sales. The reason being
people tested simultaneously that there is no transportation, no drugs available.”
could reduce the number
of test and then if you find “There is almost 45000 tons of fleet material
in them ten positives, you which has come into the country and sitting on the
tarmac in Delhi, Mumbai and other areas. Unless it is
can go on testing ten. I think cleared, we cannot get raw material inside. Also, even
increasing the number of tests if the material is ready, we cannot export it. All this
with some innovative approach is causing the choking of storage. This will create a
very several problems in coming months for pharma
will be a better thing to do.” industry as well”, Dr Jadhav concluded.
Dr Rajeev M. Dhere
Executive Director, Kalyani Sharma
[email protected]
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, India
PEOPLE NEWS 45
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Agilex Bio appoints Dr Caroline Takeda
Popper as Board Chair announces
new head
Australian bioanalytical laboratory AgilexBiolabs has appointed for India
US-based Dr Caroline Popper, MBBS, MPH as Board Chair as part
of its APAC clinical trials bioanalytics growth plans. Dr Caroline Japan headquartered
was first appointed to the AgilexBiolabs Board in July 2019. She pharmaceutical firm
is a medical doctor, pathologist, Takeda has announced the
health economist, medical appointment of Koki Sato
consultant and an experienced as the Country Head for the
company director, with over 20 company’s India business.
years of hands-on experience in In his current capacity, he
the healthcare, medical devices will lead the company’s
and drug discovery fields.She operations with a focus on the
has managed a wide range of expansion of patient access
diagnostics, device and drug to Takeda’s highly innovative
discovery businesses in both portfolio in the country. Koki
Fortune 500 and start-up settings, joined Takeda in 2003 and,
at amongst others, Becton since then, grew within the
Dickinson, bioMerieux, and MDS. company to hold various senior
AgilexBiolabs, the only FDA- international roles across
inspected lab of its type in the region, is located in Adelaide, South multiple functions, including
Australia in a science and biotech specialist hub. It has more than commercial operations,
65 dedicated laboratory staff, and annually support more than 80 finance, and HR. Prior to this
clinical trials. This year we will analyse more than 60,000 samples role, Koki was the General
for pharma/biotechs from the US, Europe and APAC. Manager of Ukraine, Belarus,
and Moldova (UBM) Cluster in
DiNovA Medtech ropes Takeda’s ICMEA Area (India,
in Dr Vivek Y. Reddy C.I.S., Middle East, Turkey,
and Africa). Sato is a Japanese
related innovations. Dr Reddy national and holds a Bachelor
is the Director of Cardiac of Arts degree in Political
Arrhythmia Services for the Science and Economics from
Mount Sinai Hospital and the Waseda University, Japan.
Mount Sinai Health System,
DiNovA Medtech, the leading and the Leona M. and Harry
medical devices incubator in B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
China, has announced that Professor of Medicine in
Vivek Y. Reddy, MD has joined Cardiac Electrophysiology at
as Chief Medical Advisor the Icahn School of Medicine
and Cofounder of portfolio at Mount Sinai. Dr Reddy is
company NuomaoMedtech one of the world’s leading
to lead cardiac arrhythmia cardiac electrophysiologists.
He leads a team of physicians
and scientists to research and
develop advanced therapies
for cardiac arrhythmias, which
includes atrial fibrillation and
ventricular tachycardias, the
most common cause of sudden
cardiac death.
46 R&D NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Korea reveals genetic map of coronavirus
The research team of the Center and revealed where genes are
for RNA Research within the exactly located on a genomic
Institute for Basic Science (IBS), RNA. The research team
South Korea has succeeded in suggests that modified RNAs
dissecting the architecture of may have new properties that
SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome, are different from unmodified
in collaboration with Korea RNAs even though they have
National Institute of Health the same genetic information
(KNIH) within Korea Centers for in terms of RNA base sequence.
Disease Control & Prevention They believe if they figure out
(KCDC). The researchers the unknown characteristics of
experimentally confirmed the RNA, the findings may offer a
predicted subgenomic RNAs new clue for combatting the new
that are in turn translated into coronavirus. Newly discovered
viral proteins. Furthermore, chemical modification will also
they analyzed the sequence help to understand the life cycle
information of each RNA of the virus.
Japan suggests Taiwan identifies
pancreatitis drug potential COVID-19
to treat COVID-19 inhibitors
Nafamostatmesylate (brand name Fusan), which Taiwan based Academia Sinicahas screened out
is the drug used to treat acute pancreatitis, may protease inhibitors of the COVID-19 coronavirus,
effectively block the requisite viral entry process the which could eventually lead to the development of
new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) uses to spread and targeted drugs to stop the virus from replicating
cause disease (COVID-19). The University of Tokyo itself in patients’ bodies. Proteases, a group
has announced these new findings. According to the of enzymes that break down proteins, act as
new research, Nafamostat can prevent the fusion catalysts in a range of biological processes, and in
of the envelope of the virus with host cell surface the context of a virus, are often essential for the
membranes, the first step in infection with the completion of the viral infectious cycle. Protease
causative virus SARS-CoV-2. Nafamostat can inhibit inhibitors, which can be naturally-occurring or
the membrane fusion at a concentration less than synthetic, block the replication of the virus, and
one-tenth that of Camostatmesylate (Foypan), which are commonly used in the treatment of human
was recently identified by a German group as an immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis
inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both Nafamostat C virus. Animal and human tests are required
and Camostat were developed in Japan as treatments before the inhibitors can be turned into anti-
for pancreatitis and some other diseases. These drugs COVID-19 drugs.
have been prescribed in Japan for many years and
have adequate clinical data with regard to safety.
R&D NEWS 47
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Australia works on Singapore
immunity check test builds
disinfection
A team, led by Associate The test will also have the robot to
Professor Menno van Zelm from capacity to look for differences tackle
Australia’s Monash University’s in the blood of patients with outbreak
Central Clinical School together mild disease versus those with
with Professor Robyn O’Hehir a severe infection, in the hope Researchers from Nanyang
from Central Clinical School and of finding biomarkers that can Technological University,
Alfred Health, is repurposing predict those who may need early Singapore (NTU
technology they recently medical intervention. Singapore) have developed
developed to test for a patient’s a semi-autonomous robot
immunity to allergens and to that can disinfect large
influenza, to make a rapid test surfaces quickly. The
to determine who has immunity researchers are planning
to coronavirus, who remains to have public trials to
infectious and who is at risk of support Singapore’s fight
developing a severe form of the against COVID-19. Named
disease. The researchers have eXtreme Disinfection
started receiving cell samples roBOT (XDBOT), it can be
from colleagues in Melbourne wirelessly controlled via a
and three main hotspots: Italy, laptop or tablet, removing
China and New York. There is a the need for cleaners to be
growing need to identify immune in contact with surfaces,
healthcare workers, minimise thereby reducing the risk of
furloughing, and allow workers picking up the virus from
safely back into the frontline. potentially contaminated
areas. The XDBOT
India to create nasal passage was developed by NTU
gel to prevent COVID-19 scientists working with
Transforma Robotics and
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body two other NTU spin-offs,
of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Hand Plus Robotics and
India, is supporting a technology by the Department of Biosciences and Maju Robotics, along with
Bioengineering (DBB), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay help from two industry
partners: Asia Centre of
for capturing and Technologies (ACOT) and
inactivation of novel Tungray Singapore Pte Ltd.
corona virus, the
causative agent
of COVID-19. The
funding will help
the team from IIT
Bombay develop
a gel that can be
applied to nasal
passage, which is a
major entry point
of the corona virus.
This solution is not only expected to protect the safety of health workers,
but can also lead to reduction in community transmission of COVID-19,
thereby helping disease management.
48 ACADEMIC S NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Osaka University Monash University receives
inks R&D $2.5 M worth funding
agreement to
fight COVID-19 A project to help 6.2 million Australians with respiratory troubles
is among Monash University initiatives to receive funding in the
Japan based Osaka University latest announcement of Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage
has signed a collaborative grants. The treatment of the respiratory diseases is hampered by
research and development (R&D) the poor efficiency of current
agreement for COVID-19 drugs delivery systems, with
and vaccines with University conventional dry powder
Public Corporation Osaka, inhaler devices exhibiting
Osaka Prefectural Hospital sub-optimum performance,
Organization, Osaka City delivering typically less than
Hospital Organization, Osaka 20 per cent of the loaded dose
Prefecture, and Osaka City. to the target site, the lungs.
To confront the COVID-19 Federal Education Minister,
outbreak, under this agreement, Dan Tehan MP, announced a
the university will promote further five Monash projects will receive close to $2.5 million in ARC
R&D of COVID-19 drugs and Linkage grants. This is in addition to another three Monash projects
vaccines, which are highly that received a total of $1.3 million in ARC funding in January.
effective measures to overcome
this crisis, contributing to the Korea University
maintenance and improvement focuses on data science
of health and quality of life of
individuals in the region. Osaka Korea University’s newly launched Institute of Data Science (IDS)
University will rapidly establish will play a leading role in the convergence research and education
cooperative systems with these in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science (DS),
organizations in order to promote the locus of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. After opening AI
R&D of drugs and vaccines in Graduate School for the first time in Korea in an effort to realize a
full force. Through collaborative data-based participatory smart campus, the university aspires to
efforts with local communities, speed up university-industry collaboration as well as boosting AI
the university will contribute and data-based converging technology research, key driving forces
to society, realizing the theme of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The IDS seeks to develop and
of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, operate group research support programs and build an advanced
“Designing Future Society for convergence education and research environment in order to promote
Our Lives” as well. AI-DS group convergence research across disciplines including the
humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, applied sciences,
and biomedical sciences.
SUPPLIER NEWS 49
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Beckman Coulter develops SARS-CoV-2 serology test
Building on its strong a large installed base of existing available shortly thereafter.
commitment to the DxI and Access 2 analyzers with Beckman Coulter’s
fight against COVID-19, testing on the DxCi platform to be immunoassay analyzers are
Beckman Coulter has used in both the hospital
announced a mid-May core laboratory and smaller
launch timeline for its new laboratories and can
Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG deliver up to 200 serology
serology test and plans to test results per analyzer
achieve market-leading per hour, depending
production volumes that upon the analyzer. This is
will ramp to more than 30 important as up until now,
million tests per month. many hospitals have had
The availability of the to rely upon lateral flow
Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay will serology testing, which may have
enable healthcare professionals to significantly lower sensitivity and
expedite patient testing utilizing specificity.
Kaneka to supply Cyient receives
API for Avigan tablet quality certification for
ASIC design, supply
Japanese chemical manufacturing company Kaneka
Corporation has reached an agreement with India headquartered Cyient has announced
FUJIFILM Corporation to supply drug substances that AnSem, a Cyient company, has received
for anti-influenza drug, Avigan Tablet (generic the ISO 13485:2016 certification for design and
name favipiravir), for the novel coronavirus disease. supply of integrated circuits to the medtech
While COVID-19 continues to spread, the Japanese market. ISO 13485:2016 is an international
government has decided to increase its stockpiles of quality management standard essential for the
Avigan Tablet, which is expected to be effective against medical device industry to ensure the safety
COVID-19, for up to 2 million people, and FUJIFILM and traceability of medical products. AnSem is
Corporation has expanded its production system and Cyient’s center of excellence for custom turnkey
started increasing its production of Avigan Tablet. mixed-signal application specific integrated
Kaneka will put in every effort to provide solutions circuit (ASIC) and is managing its complete life
to the COVID-19 for worldwide health. The company cycle from design requirements to high-volume
has already started supplying PCR reagents used production until end-of-life. The recognition
for COVID-19 tests via its group company Kaneka reaffirms the company’s long-standing track
Eurogentec (Headquarters: Belgium). In addition, it record in developing advanced ASIC circuit
is enhancing its contracted manufacturing efforts for design for class III implants, medical patches,
a COVID-19 vaccine using technologies such as high- hearing aids, medical imaging, and nurse call
quality mRNA and plasmid DNA and are handling an localization and alarm systems.
onrush of inquiries.
50 SUPPLIER NEWS
BIOSPECTRUM | MAY 2020 | www.biospectrumasia.com
Shimadzu releases detection kit for COVID-19
Shimadzu Corporation and has been developed based on from the Japanese National
has released its 2019 the pathogen detection manual Institute for Infectious
Novel Coronavirus Diseases. This technology
Detection Kit. For the works to prevent proteins,
time being the kits will polysaccharides, etc. contained
only be available in in the biological sample from
Japan, but preparations inhibiting Polymerase Chain
are underway to export Reaction (PCR), allowing the
these kits overseas from PCR reaction solution to be
May onwards. 2019 added directly to the biological
Novel Coronavirus sample without the need for
Detection Kit uses Shimadzu’s extracting and purifying DNA or
unique Ampdirect technology RNA.
PerkinElmer expands Bio-Rad unveils Ab
analysis and test for COVID-19
automation portfolio
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a global leader of life
PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader committed science research and clinical diagnostic products,
to innovating for a healthier world, has has commercially launched its SARS-CoV-2 Total
expanded its analysis and automation portfolio Antibody (Ab) test, a blood-based immunoassay kit
for quality, safety and content testing. to help determine if an individual has developed
Geared for pharmaceutical, semiconductor, antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus associated with
biomonitoring, food, materials and academia COVID-19 disease. Bio-Rad has applied for Emergency
labs, the new offerings are designed to help Use Authorization offered by the U.S. Food and Drug
streamline workflows, sharpen insights Administration and has met the CE mark requirements
and meet regulations. NexION 5000 Multi- for Europe. Bio-Rad’s SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab test can
help clinicians identify if an individual has been infected
Quadruple ICP-MS for by SARS-CoV-2 and therefore has developed an immune
demanding trace element response against the virus. The test detects IgG, IgM,
analyses, this multi- and IgA antibodies, an approach that appears to be more
quadrupole ICP-MS sensitive than assays against a single immunoglobulin.
solution drives accurate and Clinical evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab test has
repeatable results, while demonstrated diagnostic specificity of more than 99
helping to future-proof labs. percent and diagnostic sensitivity of 98 percent. Cross-
Spectrum 3 spectrometer is a reactivity testing demonstrated specificity of 100 percent
tri-range Fourier-transform with no reactivity against other interfering specimens
infrared spectroscopy solution featuring 100 including non-CoV-2 coronaviruses.
scans/second for pharmaceutical, polymer,
materials, food, academic or chemical
labs doing advanced research, product
development or reaction monitoring. For
more advanced applications, it can be easily
hyphenated with PerkinElmer’s TG 8000
thermogravimetric analyzer and Clarus SQ8
GC/MS chromatography system. Spectrum
3 also leverages PerkinElmer’s Spectrum 10
software and cloud connectivity via NetPlus
software delivering accurate results, integrated
workflows and global, real-time collaboration.
The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Taiwan’s success story in combating COVID-19
COVID-19 has unravelled the potency and the feebleness of most geographical region’s healthcare, technical, social and political structure. While countries are anticipating various dimensions to tackle coronavirus and combat the pandemic, Taiwan’s success in controlling COVID-19 has bolstered its global standing despite the close geographical proximity with China. The resilient island aggregated its forces to tackle the virus and circumstances rationally with well-established pandemic control strategies, bio medical assets, advanced IoT capabilities, impeccable healthcare system and a well organised political force. Taiwan apparently grappled the coronavirus incredibly well and is now keen to offer medical and technical assistance to other countries in this global crisis.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search